Home automation controller and system for optically safely linking AC voltage lines with low voltage DC lines

ABSTRACT

At least two cascaded chains of intelligent support boxes linked by optical cable provide the needed elements to link the electric AC power line and low voltage DC power lines to the many known outlets and switches (wiring devices) and their loads be it AC or DC operated, with the AC and DC lines are separately drawn through separated conduits and ducts safely and accurately controlled by an home controller and/or via a command converter and a distributor.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. Ser. No. 17/399,001, filed Aug. 10, 2021 and which is pending.

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. Ser. No. 17/239,148, filed Apr. 23, 2021 and which is pending.

U.S. U.S. Ser. No. 17/399,001 is a continuation application of andclaims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 17/239,148, filed Apr. 23, 2021 andwhich is pending.

U.S. Ser. No. 17/239,148 is a continuation application of and claimspriority to U.S. Ser. No. 17/065,491, filed Oct. 7, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 11,031,760. U.S. Ser. No. 17/065,491 is a continuation of and claimspriority to U.S. Ser. No. 16/926,298, filed Jul. 10, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,840,686. U.S. Ser. No. 16/926,298 is a continuation of and claimspriority to U.S. Ser. No. 16/538,225, filed Aug. 12, 2019, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,797,476, which is a Continuation in part of and claims priorityto U.S. Ser. No. 16/290,295, filed Mar. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,686,535, which is a Continuation in part of and claims priority toU.S. Ser. No. 15/917,135, filed Mar. 9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,225,005.

U.S. Ser. No. 17/065,491 is a continuation of and claims priority toU.S. Ser. No. 16/999,052, filed Aug. 20, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.10,840,687, which is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Ser.No. 16/538,225, filed Aug. 12, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,797,476, whichis a Continuation in part of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No.16/290,295, filed Mar. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,686,535, which is aContinuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 15/917,135,filed Mar. 9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,225,005.

U.S. Ser. No. 17/065,491 is a continuation of and claims priority toU.S. Ser. No. 16/538,225, filed Aug. 12, 2019, and now U.S. Pat. No.10,797,476.

All patents and applications mentioned in this document are specificallyincorporated in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to combining electrical wiring devicesincluding switches, hybrid switches, relays, AC outlets, and/orcommunication connectors, terminals or sockets for electrical, optical,RF and/or IR signals, including chargers, IoTs and AC devices mountedinto intelligent support boxes or frames.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The common wiring devices shown in FIGS. 1A-D of the prior art areindividually connected by wires to the device terminals, shown wired andmounted onto a frame, with the frame mounted onto a well knownelectrical wall boxes.

Removing the individually wired device for service or replacement is aprocess that is not too complex, but takes time to complete.

First by removing a surrounding decorative frame, followed by removingthe frame from the box and step by step disconnecting the wires from thedevice terminals, the device from the frame, and re-installing a new,replacement device.

The re-installing of replacement device, calls for a reverse processthat is not too complex either, but takes time to complete. The time inthis sense is far more costly than the cost of the device itself, as theremoval and install must be carried by licensed electric professionaland not by a user of the system.

Decorating plates or frames surrounding the switches, relays and ACoutlets, including decorative keys that are used for switching on-offelectrical appliances, such as lights, water boiler, air conditioners,heaters and any other electrical equipment and appliances in residences,offices, public building, businesses, hotels, restaurants, factories andthe like are very well known.

The well known decorative plates, panels, frames and key covers areinjected by plastic materials in different colors, shapes and sizes, orby glass keys and frames disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,608,418. Thesupport frame for the varying AC wiring devices are disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 9,219,358.

Further, the U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,453,686, 7,461,012, 7,639,907, 7,649,727,7,864,500, 7,973,647, 8,041,221, 8,117,076, 8,148,921, 8,170,722,8,175,463, 8,269,376, 8,331,794, 8,331,795, 8,340,527, 8,344,668,8,384,249, 8,441,824, 8,442,792, 8,742,892, 8,930,158, 9,018,803,9,036,158, 9,219,358, 9,257,251 and 9,281,147 disclose home automationcontrols, connections, intelligent outlets, hybrid switches, switches,relays and accessories for operating electrical appliance via add-ondevices such as the SPDT and DPDT relays or current drain sensors, RFIDtags for identifying the load and operating appliances via hybridswitches, including hybrid switches operated via mechanically ormagnetic latching relays.

The U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,219,358 and 9,608,418 hereafter 358′ and 418′, arefurther introduced herein by reference particularly for disclosing indetails the support boxes that are mounted into electrical wall boxesand the wiring devices being attached into the electrical support boxesby a plug in action. The structure of which are shown in FIGS. 2A-9D forthe purpose of identifying the elements involved in the release andremove process by a push of a release bars of release hand tools, orbare push bar(s).

With the expanding demand for home automation devices there is a need toreplace and introduce “easier to install, set and remove” devices,and/or change the look of the frames and keys, be it simple color changeor other architectural needs, and

There is a need for a solution to simplify the devices installation intointelligent or non-intelligent support boxes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.358′ making the installing process of a device a simple process of asimple “plug into the box”.

There is a need to introduce a simple “remove process”, by a simple“push-in bars” individually inserted or plurality of push-in barsassembled into hand tool for simplifying the pull of a given wiringdevice from the support box by an electrical installer or by a user (atenant) of a given premise.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The main object of the present invention therefore is to provide theinstallers and/or the users of “plug-in electrical wiring devices”,and/or “plug-in communication devices” with at least one “release bar”,“insertable into” at least one “channel of ramps” for unlocking at leastone “lock ramp” of a “plug-in device” plugged into a “support box”.Wherein said at least one release bar is included in a plurality of barsof a given “hand tool”, for insertion into more than one channel oframps for releasing a locked “plug-in device” and pull the device by agiven “pull element” structures into said release bar or said hand toolproviding a simple “push-in inserting action” and “a pull action” of theplugged-in device from the support box including a “support frame”.

The term “electrical wiring device” as referred throughout theapplication is the well known, commonly used light switch, AC outlet andany combinations of switch(es) and outlet(s) in premises, be itresidence, public building or businesses for switching on-off or dimlights and providing electric power sources to appliances.

The electrical wiring devices are mounted in well known wall boxes suchas 2″×4″ or 4″×4″ in the US, or in 60 mm round or rectangular (indifferent sizes) in Europe, or square boxes in the UK and China, and areconnected by electrical wires directly via screw, push or other wiresupporting terminals.

The term “gang” as referred throughout the application and in the claimsis a well known term for specifying a wall box size. The number of gangsis a given number of AC wiring devices that can be mounted into a givenbox. A gang can also be a reference to the width size of a given wiringdevice. The hybrid switch disclosed in the present application is havinga single gang width size of approx. 23-26 mm (or approx. 1″) to be usedas one of standard common switch width used in Europe and the US.

The term “insertable into” as referred throughout the application and inthe claims refers to an insertion of the release bar by hand direct orby using a support holder of an hand tool into a “channel of ramps”.

The term “channel of ramps” as referred throughout the application andin the claims is at least one spaced area between a “plug-in device”,also termed “plug-in low voltage device” or “plug-in communicationdevice” or “plug-in AC powered device” and a “support frame” of the“support box” enclosing the “lock portion” of a “lock arm”, “guidegrooves” and “stop ridges” of the frame.

With the plug-in device comprising a reciprocal lock ramp, a pull rampand a reciprocal guiding convexes, wherein the “channel of ramps”provide the access for the insertion of the insertable release bar forreleasing the lock ramp from being locked by the lock arm.

The term “lock ramp” as referred throughout the application and in theclaims is at least one elevated structure having a slop terminated by asharp drop step, structured onto the outer surface of a plug-in devicefor sliding into a support frame via the slop and be locked by a lockingindentation, reciprocal to the sharp drop step, included in a bendinglock arm of a support frame.

The term “release ramp” as referred throughout the application and inthe claims is at least one protruded structure, similar to and reverselystructured above the “lock ramp” in a position enabling the “releasebar” to be inserted into said “channel of ramps” for reversely bendingthe lock arm, release said lock ramp and engage the release ramp's dropstep, for pulling the plug-in device away from a lock state.

The term “plug-in electrical box” and/or “plug-in device box” and/or“plug-in box” and/or “low voltage plug-in box” and/or “plug-in supportbox” and/or “support box” and/or “standard plug-in box” as referredthroughout the application and in the claims is a plug-in box or acasing, sized and shaped, to include the frame of and intelligentsupport box designed or otherwise similar to the disclosure in U.S. Pat.No. 9,219,358 of the prior art including at least one updated gangstructured channels of ramps for providing a release and a pull of aplugged in device.

The term “push-in inserting action” as referred throughout theapplication and in the claims is the first action for releasing thelocked plug-in device in contrast to the inserting action of the plug-indevice into the frame and into the support box that is termed throughoutthe application and the claims to be a plug-in or plugged in action forlocking the plug-in device to the support frame.

The term “pull elements” as referred throughout the application and inthe claims refers to an element or structure for enabling the pull of areleased plug-in device outwards away from the support frame to at leasta point where the pulled plug-in device is accessible to further pulland removed by a bare hand of the person operating the one of and atleast one release bar or a hand tool comprising plurality of bars.

The term “removal” as referred throughout the application and in theclaims is an action of removing the released plug-in device from thesupport frame and the support box, pulled by at least one release bar orby plurality of release bars tied together by a cord, or plurality ofrelease bars attached to an hand tool or by plurality of release barsassembly combined with a structured hand tool for pulling the releasedplug-in device by bare hand or by a further pull of the released plug-indevice gripped or clutched by the release bars.

A decorative keys or other keys structured or attached to the plug-inswitches or hybrid switches, including decorated keys with tinted glassor tinted crystal or molded plastic decorative keys or other molded keysas disclosed further below are structured to provide access for therelease bar insertion with no obstruction to the release, pull or theremoving action.

The term “plug-in communication outlet” or “low voltage communicationoutlet” refers to the known communication outlets such as plugs, socketsand combinations thereof for telephone, internet, USB, audio, TV orcable TV antenna, an RF antenna or optical cable, each occupying atleast half gang space can be plugged-in in pairs and released in pairsby a pair of inserted release bars, or be removed individually byinserting a single release bar, enabled by a convex and concavestructured guides separating the two.

A dummy or the term “blank insert” refers to a dummy structure having asize and shape of an half gang plug-in communication outlet foroccupying the other half gang surface is introduced whenever only singlehalf gang size outlet is needed.

The hand tool combining two release bars including a bare hand held tworelease bars for removal of switches, hybrid switches, relays,integrated switch-relay, IoT, touch pad and communication socketsoccupying a single gang space, by inserting a pair of release bars intothe two channels of ramps via the channel's accesses all the way to thestop point, thereby release the two lock ramps on both sides of theplug-in device and pull the released plug-in device away from itslocking arm.

The term “hand tool” covers and including a bare hand held release barsfor removal of switches, hybrid switches, relays, integrated switchrelay, IoT, touch pad and communication outlets occupying a single gangspace be it by a single, a pair or four release bars inserted into one,two or “n” channels of ramps, regardless if the individual release baror bars are tied to a cord or attached together by a knot or to a pullhandle or individually loose.

AC outlets, IoTs, connectors, sockets, and chargers occupying dualand/or “n” gang spaces are released and pulled away from the lock armsby four release bars or by plurality of “n” release bars or a hand toolcombining “n” release bars for devices occupying more than two gangspace of an intelligent support frame and box.

The term “outlet” including low voltage supply sockets or low voltagecommunication sockets including a feed of low voltage power foroperating IoTs (Internet of Things), AI's (Artificial Intelligence)sensors, processors, communicators and/or controllers, via chargercircuit included in the support box fed via given terminals or givenconnector, each constructed to be compatible with an “attachable device”in a size matching a single gang or plurality of gangs is referredhereafter and/or in the claims to be a “standard plug-in outlet”.

The “attachable device” or the “standard plug-in outlet” are incontradiction, to the references disclosed to a similar, smaller orlarger currently used AC switch or AC outlet of the prior art, known tobe and referred to hereafter and in the claims as a “standard size ACswitch or outlet”.

The terms “standard switches” and/or “standard outlets” are referred tothe known to be wiring devices that are mounted directly into “astandard electrical wall box”, such as the known 2×4″ or 4×4″ wall boxesin the US, or such as 60 mm round European electrical wall box or othersquare or rectangular electrical boxes as used in Europe, UK, Australiaor China and are shown in FIGS. 1A-1D (the prior art) in the presentapplication, none of which is a plug-in device.

The term(s) “standard plug-in switch(es)” and/or “standard plug-inoutlet(s)” (also to outlets referred to above) and/or “standard plug-inoutlet” or “standard plug-in device(s)” that are supported by thesupport frame and box including the connection to AC power line by aplugged in terminals are referred to hereafter and in the claims as“standard plug-in AC device”.

The above defined terms are needed to avoid confusion andmisunderstanding of the lock and release actions of the presentinvention that cannot be equated with the known wiring devicesassemblies mounted into wall boxes by different means, none is attachedor released by a plug into and lock the body of the device and itsterminals by plug-in action, and none is released and pulled away by asingle simple action.

The term “standard plug-in AC switches” as referred throughout theapplication and in the claims refers to any switching semiconductor, orelectromechanical, or manually operated switching element or combinedelements, such as a triac, an FET switch, a relay, an hybrid switch, amanual switch and any combination thereof encapsulated in a size andshape fit the support frame and include at least two channels of rampsand accesses for the release bars to be inserted.

The term “standard plug-in AC outlets” as referred throughout theapplication and in the claims refers to AC socket of any known countryand types be it two pin or three pin socket, with and without groundterminals, with or without inner movable safety covers for any knowngiven safety standard, enclosed in a casing size occupying at least twogang space and four of said “channel of ramps” and accesses for four ormore release bars.

The term “standard plug-in device” or “standard plug-in enclosure” asreferred throughout the application and in the claims is at least onedevice or enclosure selected from a group comprising a switching device,an outlet device, a communication device, a communication connector, anIoT device, an AI device and combinations therefore enclosed in a sizeand shape fit the support frame and box including at least two channelsof ramps and accesses for at least two release bars.

The term “attachable device” as referred throughout the application andin the claims is at least one device selected from a group comprising aswitching device, an outlet device, a communication device, acommunication connector, an IoT device, an Ai device and combinationthereof enclosed in a size and shape and channels of ramps differentfrom the size, shape and channels of ramps as well as different size andshape of the “standard” release bar and is calling for the establishmentof new sizes and structures for installing one of plurality of givenplug-in devices or given plug-in AC switches and AC outlet/sockets thatare differing in shape and sizes but not in the basics of plug-indevices that are installed by plug-in action and released in the sameprocess of push-in, release, pull and remove.

The release bars disclosed above are all moulded bars made of hardplastic material, that is rigid to last, yet for some applications,installers and users may prefer to use a metal release and pullelements.

To provide such a release and pull bar and elements an anotherembodiment is structured by removing the release ramp from the channelof ramps and introduce dual release tongue on each of the sides(left-right) of the single gang device such as hybrid switches.

For the two gang devices, such as the plug in AC outlets, the releasetongue is structured with dual release elevated ramps for the twochannel of ramps, with the release ramps of the two release tongues areamended to provide a single rectangular cutout in each of a springyformed metal sheet for pulling a single reciprocal release ramp forpulling by the dual tongues the two gang plug-in AC device (the ACoutlet) or IoT (as an example), wherein the metal sheet or the tongueprovide for good clutching and for removing the single gang and dualgang devices away from the supporting box and frames, being clutched bythe springy formed metal sheet all the way after and through the releaseand through for complete removal.

The decorating surfaces of keys and outlets are preferably furtherincluding decorating surfaces of communication connectors such as theknown RJ-45 or USB connectors for connecting routers, printers and otherPC peripherals and/or antenna socket or audio socket for connecting lowvoltage devices via audio connectors, cable television connectors,television antennas or dish antennas to be all in similar standardenclosure, to form a standard structures and sizes fitting the plug-instructures of the hybrid switches of the intelligent outlets.

Thereby unifying the structure and the architectural finishing of anexpanding range of “wiring devices” be it AC power, DC power, PC andperipherals, audio, TV, IoT (Internet of Things), AI (ArtificialIntelligence) and combinations thereof, all to be in a “standard plug-indevice” measured in gang size, such as half gang, single gang or “n”gangs.

Accordingly the term “outlet” refers to hereafter and in the claims toan expanded range including AC or DC power outlets, and to other wallmounted PC and peripheral connectors, telephone connectors, audioconnectors, TV antenna connectors, cable TV connectors, and otherconnectors used for connecting AC or DC appliances including theexpanding the range of the support frames and the support boxes orintelligent support boxes. The examples of the half gang size and shapeas disclosed below and are shown in FIGS. 4D, 5C and 12C-D.

The terms “flat outlet surface” or “flat switch surface” or “touchscreen surface” refers to an outlet or a switch key having a flat frontsurface aligned with the entire flat panel including the decorativeframe surface, and further including the surface of a plug-in touchscreen device having a size and a flat surface of an outlet or a switchkey, or of a whole panel including the decorative frame.

Another important practical object of the present invention is toprovide lower cost decorative panels, frames and key covers to a givenhybrid switches and power outlets installed into given intelligentsupport box disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,219,358.

The term “hybrid switch” refers to hereafter and in the claims to one ofrelay/switch combination and mechanical latching relays used forelectrical automation system disclosed in the referenced US patents,having front surface and body size and shape including the touch panelsto be in identical with the outlets and/or the hybrid switches.

The term “standard size and shape” is the other objective attained bythe present invention, providing the hybrid switch with a structure thatcan be fitted with different key levers such as flat push and flatrocker key and the freedom to select any from a wide variety of leversand decorative covers and frames sizes including variety of design andcolors that are available and are being regularly introduced to theconstruction/electrical industry by the different switches manufacturersand can be defined as having half width size of a given outlet, orhaving the outlet at twice width size of a given “flat key”.

“Flat key” refers to hereafter and in the claims to a flat keys of anhybrid switch operated by a push throughout the key surface and to flatkey or keys of a manual toggle or rocker switch operated by a push of adesignated/indicated area of the push key and with the outlet having thesame flat surface and height of the key, and wherein the body structureis having standard size and shape, including the locking elements,guiding elements, height and given single gang width or plurality ofgangs or “widths” combined.

To simplify the term “standard size and shape” the present invention andclaims use the term “gang” to be the reference to a size and a shape ofa single switch, hybrid switch, a relay or a touch pad such a singletouch pad and other accessories having a single gang size and shape foroperating at least one given appliance, by for example an intelligentIoT device.

Accordingly the term “single gang” is defined as the standard shape andsize of a given switching device or operating device for at least onegiven appliance. Single gang occupies a single mounting space within thesupport box. “Single gang touch key” however can include two or moretouch icon for operating more than one given appliance.

The term “dual gang” device is the size and shape for introduction awiring device, such as at least one AC outlet as used for any knownoutlet in any given country or region. The “dual gang” occupies dualmounting spaces within the support box.

A dual gang AC outlet may combine two AC sockets, while a single gangswitch can provide for SPST (single pole single throw), SPDT (singlepole dual throw), DPST (dual pole single throw) and DPDT (dual pole dualthrow) switching devices.

“Multi gang device” is defined as a device occupying a space of three ormore gangs of the support box, including but not limited to Ai(Artificial intelligence) or IoT (Internet of Things) device havingcomplex circuits and/or sensors and/or requiring n optical and/or RFIDaccesses into the supporting box, or requiring support boxes withdifferent optical or RFID signals band width, mandating differentoptical transceiver and or RFID antenna.

The intelligent support boxes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,219,358communicate between a chain of cascading boxes via POF (plastic opticalfiber) or other “optical cable” recited in the claims or via RFantennas. The practical limit to optical or RF signals is due to theelectrical and building codes prohibiting an introduction of low voltagecopper lines between or into a wall box including support box mixed withAC live or neutral lines or wires.

The POF or silica fiber cable is a fire retardant and a perfectinsulator that is permitted to be mixed and mingled with AC power wiresto and from wall boxes between any given AC appliance and AC source. Thedisclosed intelligent boxes are linked in a cascaded chain or directlylinked to a controller via POF or optical fiber cable. The preferredconnection is via each end of a POF being terminated by a sharp cut,using POF guillotine cutter.

The terminated end of POF is attached to an optoport by push-in action,disclosed to be locked into the optoport by locking a screw.Alternatively, the cut end (terminated end) can be locked by a simplepush-in via structured lock element with no supporting tools. Thesolution of which makes all the element of the intelligent box(s) to beplugged-in, be it the electrical wires, the POF and the plugged-indevices, including AC operated and AC powered devices, such as IoT, thatcover different functions and specification. Particularly IoT and/or Aidevices that need to be linked to the electric and/or the homeautomation grid, to perform at least one function, such as referring tohumidity, temperature, illumination, movement and the other knownenvironmental sensing is included in the other “standard plug-indevice”, discussed and referred to above. The introduction of IoT and Aidevices into the interior electrical grid is another major object of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

There are different communicating IoTs and Ai to consider and to providefor communicating data and commands via different signals such as RF,via given antenna, IR via IR transceiver (transmitter or transceiver),and optical via an optoport disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,219,358, whichis communicating at a lower speed for operating electrical appliancesand reporting power consumption.

IoT, Ai and other devices call for higher speed optical signalcommunication for one of communicating data with other intelligentdevices (IoTs and/or Ai devices), and/or both communicating the referredto lower speed and/or higher speed via same optoports, or via separatetwo optical grids. Each individual cascading grid, comprising terminatedPOF segments (cuts), with each cut is directed to propagate its signalsvia “four way” optoports. The “four way” lower speed or the higher speedor both are provided for propagating commands and responses to and fromelectrical devices between appliances and a controller communicating ashort protocols and commands at a lower speed.

The expansion of the communication to higher speed is to provide the IoTand Ai devices with higher speed circuits operating the artificialintelligence devices (or a given appliance) that communicates dataand/or mixed data and protocols. Thus, the providing of higher speed fordata propagation is essential.

The low or high speed cascaded optoport require each optoport tocomprise dual optical transceivers each for two way communication, i.e.,receive or transmit in two direction, such as respond to command ordata, or propagate the command or data to the next optoport of the nextcascading intelligent box in the cascading chain, be it for lower speed,higher speed or combined.

The single cascading optoport operating in a two direction, each of thetwo way is in fact a joint crossing point of dual two way or “four way”junction to optical signals, such as receive command, respond, transmitthe command to the next (cascading segment) and await for a response andre-propagate the response to complete the four way exchange.

The propagation of optical signals can be therefore viewed as actualfour ways. The repeated responding to the initial transmission are areverse propagation in each direction, this random reversing magnifiesthe incidences of signals collision that is reduced substantially withthe lower speed signals by detecting on going propagated signalactivity, detected by the receiving element of the optoport transceiver.

The lower speed signals, such as the use of short protocols with fivebyte, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722 referred to above, to thelower speed, such as below 1K bit per second, can be detected by theopto transistor used in the opto transceiver disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,340,527. A detection duration of 0.5 mSec., as an example, providessufficient time for the blocking or preventing the opto transmitter ofthe optoport from transmitting.

For higher speed signals the detecting and processing time may beinsufficient to prevent collision, and moreover, for higher speedoptical signals such as 100K bit and above the use of photo transistorsis not recommended. The photo transistor processing speed is slower andthe photo transistor amplification is non linear, introducing speedlimits. For higher speed the use of photo diode or optodiode ispreferred.

On the other hand, the photo transistor provide self amplification, butsignals detected by opto diode need to be amplified, timed and shaped byadded circuits which are costly. Further, the multi processingrepresents a time delay in the sensing of light or propagated activityof signals via the cascaded POF and therefore cannot be effective toensure no collision.

The cascaded chain of POF cuts for higher speed communication is yetanother object of the present invention, including a newly devisedoptoport comprising direct optical access to optical elements of atransmitter, a receiver including a signal sensor for sensing opticalsignal presence and a circuit for controlling the transmission starttime.

The newly introduced optoport elements and circuits substantiallyupgrading the intelligence capabilities of an intelligent IoT and Aiboxes of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

The introduction of higher speed optical grid into the intelligentsupport boxes of an electrical grid of a given premises, introduceshigher speed grids, cascading between group of boxes. The installing ofsuch higher performance grid cannot be completed without the grid beingtested and verified to be performing as designed, or be tested andadjusted/corrected to perform as designed.

For such purpose, it is preferable to provide for the expandedcapability (covering the lower speed cascading grid and/or the higherspeed cascading grid) a measuring devices. This considering that manyinstallers of electrical devices are not fiber optic communicationinstaller, or are knowledgeable in optical signal propagation. Suchstate mandates an introduction of varying testers, covering the wholerange of testing in the practical need for the cascading lines and thegrid performances.

The optical testers can be combined with a calibrating tester, forcalibrating intelligent AC outlet that measures AC current andcalculates the power consumed by a load, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,442,792, 8,594,965 which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention of optical signal testers along with hand pull tools forrelease and remove the structured enclosure of the hybrid switches, theAC outlet, the IoTs and Ai devices, covering different sensors for theinterior and exterior environments, sensing functions and details thatare known, or are unknown at present time, to be introduced in thefuture, all connected via at least one cut POF segment of plurality ofcascading optic segments of POF grid, with each segment is terminated bya simple cut by a terminating guillotine hand cutting tool disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 8,453,332, 8,596,174.

With the combined hand tools form a combined support to electricalinstallers, adding substantial support to simplify and ease theinstallation and setting, as disclosed in the many US patens listedabove in the prior art section, and introduced herein by reference.

An introduction of the intelligent support boxes into a wall of anoccupied premises, be it a stand alone house or an apartment of highrise building will be problematic in many instances, for one, it involvephysical construction and may not be accessible to an optical fiber,such as a cut/terminated POF segment to other boxes and/or to a systemdistributer or controller direct.

To connect the whole of a given plurality of support boxes may requirecomplete replacement of wiring devices and boxes, which is too costlyand troublesome to the occupying residents.

For such reasons there is a need to provide the intelligent supportboxes and the interior of the premises with wireless grid be it RF or IRin open spaces, whole or part of the element and combinations coveringoptical, RF and IR or optical and IR, optical and RF, RF and IR.

Further, the referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,973,647, 8,170,722, 8,639,405disclose two way command converters including optical to RF, RF tooptical, optical to electrical, electrical to optical, IR (optical) toRF, RF to IR, IR to electrical, electrical to IR, RF to electrical,electrical to RF and combinations thereof.

Introducing a selection of the converter, all powered by the AC powerline, along with the other circuits of the intelligent support boxesprovide for segmenting the boxes into confined areas and be cascaded bya segmented communication, be it electrical, optical, IR or RF and/orcombinations thereof.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to segment thecommunication signals and protocols to limit collisions between othernon optical signals, such as providing different frequencies and/ormodulation to electrical and RF signals, shorten the protocols byreducing bit count, addresses length, including programs and preventcollisions with and between two or more intelligent support boxes ingiven segmented cascaded line as set, the particulars of which arefurther detailed in the preferred embodiment descriptions.

Further the well known cordless telephones, operating at 25-60 MHz bandfor internal communication within a building, using modulated signals,such as FM, AM, ASK, FSK and other well known modulation for max. eightor sixteen zones or channels, using common coded protocols, unified forall frequencies, can be adapted (as an example) to communicate betweenthe intelligent support boxes and/or the standard plug-in support boxesand between plurality of IoT's and Ai's devices, including voicecommands via an attached IoT or Ai plug-in device, using well known RFtransceivers and antennas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A˜1D are perspective illustrations of the prior art showing theinstallation and assembling of commonly used wiring devices, includingoptical controlled relays by cascaded POF segments, decorative coversand commonly used keys of the prior art including the well known glasscover;

FIGS. 2A˜2B are perspective view illustrations of the prior artdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,608,418 (418′) showing dual gang supportbox for installing AC outlet or dual hybrid switches of the prior art,updated with pull elements of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2C is showing perspective views of the structured elements forinstalling by plug-in, and locking single gang SPST, SPDT, DPST,reversing DPDT and dual gang plug-in AC outlet of FIG. 2B disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 9,219,358 (358′) and 418′, including a single or dualsocket with one or dual entries for one or dual RFID and/or opticalaccesses of the prior art, updated with pull elements of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective view and illustrations of the assembling ofthree hybrid combinations of switch-relay, or hybrid switches of thepreferred embodiment of the prior art (U.S. Pat. Nos. 358′ and 418′)including a detailed glass elements of the decorative covers and keys,as updated with pull elements of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A-4C are perspective illustrations, showing particulars of thepositions of the lock arms of the support frame and of the channel oframps for the “standard plug-in AC switches and outlets” of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, including the showing ofthe pull elements, the RFID tag and the optoport for communicating withan RFID tag or an appliance via an AC plug with built-in front optoportof the prior art.

FIG. 4D shows a perspective view of the half gang communication outletsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5C are perspective illustrations showing four gang supportboxes including frames and decorative covers of the prior art (U.S. Pat.Nos. 358′ and 418′) and the intelligent boxes of the present inventionfor supporting a range of AC outlets and hybrid switches including thepull elements in an identical size casing covered by molded plastic andcut glass frames and keys;

FIG. 5D shows a perspective view of the single and dual gangscommunication outlets, including power and communication terminals ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A˜6C are perspective views and illustrations showing the six gangsupport boxes showing the versatility of the intelligent boxes of theprior art (U.S. Pat. Nos. 358′ and 418′), updated with pull elements ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, for supporting hybridswitches and AC outlets as used in the different countries or regions ofthe world, in an identical standard size plug-in casing;

FIGS. 7A˜7C are perspective views and illustrations showing the eightgang support boxes and the versatility of the intelligent boxes of theprior art (U.S. Pat. Nos. 358′ and 418′) as updated with pull elementsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention outlets as used inthe different countries or regions of the world;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective views illustrating the different supportboxes that can be mounted vertically for supporting modified poweroutlets, shown in FIGS. 2A-7C, updated with pull elements of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, structured for mountinginto vertical column boxes and an example of a typical wall box for thefour gang support box;

FIGS. 9A˜9B are illustrative and enlarged drawings showing the elementsfor attachment of the decorative covers onto an installed support frameincluding the particulars of the structured elements for attaching ofthe decorative frames;

FIGS. 10A˜10C are front, rear and side drawings showing the elements forthe plug-in, locking, release and the pull of the outlets and hybridswitches from the support frame of the intelligent support box, or thestandard plug-in support box including the lock and release ridges andparticulars of updated pull elements of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 11A-11E are perspective drawings showing the versatility of lowvoltage plug-in connectors and connection particulars and the assemblingof the connectors into the plug-in enclosure and prior to insertion intothe low voltage plug-in support boxes of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 12A-12D are perspective drawings showing the low voltage plug-indevices including IoTs and Ai devices linked via extended cables, POFand terminals to the low voltage plug-in support boxes and further showthe combination of IoT device and AC outlet as updated plugged into theintelligent support box (FIG. 12C) of the prior art of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13B are perspective drawings showing plug-in IoTs and Aidevices to be plugged and/or plugged into the prior art intelligentsupport boxes powered by AC power via built-in power supply into eachIoT or Ai device linked via at least one updated optical access forcommunication and control via at least one optical grid;

FIG. 13C introduces perspective drawings of the low voltage plug-insupport boxes for IoTs and Ai devices and the plurality of opticalaccesses for POF cuts and direct accesses between the boxes surface andthe IoTs or Ai devices or both;

FIG. 14A-14C are illustrative circuit diagrams showing the prior artoptical access for slower speed signals and the upgraded opticalaccesses for propagating higher speed signals including the generatingof intend to transmit command for providing traffic control signal to acascaded optical network;

FIG. 15A shows the connections including block diagram of optical gridelements, for propagating higher speed signal in a cascaded optical gridof the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15b shows a combined optical grid for propagating higher and loweroptical speed signals via a single optical cable POF using the junctionsshown in FIGS. 14A and 14B for controlling each cascaded segment withsignal traffic control.

FIGS. 15C-15E show block diagrams of optical grid cascaded via nintelligent support boxes combined with standard plug-in support boxesvia lower speed optical signal, combined lower and higher opticalsignals via a single POF cascading cable and via dual cascading POFcables propagating separately the lower speed and the higher speedsignals.

FIGS. 16A-16D show illustrative drawings of an optical tester series,including a responder for testing and verifying the connectivity andsignal propagation within the optical grids, be it the lower speed, thehigher speed, and combined, including an updated calibrator tester ofthe prior art, by using a tester adaptor to be attached to the prior artcalibrator.

FIGS. 17A-17E are block diagrams showing the electrical-optical circuitsof the standard plug-in support box, and the different optical signaltesters, including the block diagram of the added-on adaptor for usewith the calibrator/tester.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the intelligent support box of the priorart, shown to be similar to at least in part of the circuits used withinthe embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are two illustrative presentation of a cascadedelectrical and low voltage grids as used in buildings, modified toinclude at least one optical cable grid and plurality of blank wallboxes with loose wires and cables within the box to enable theintroduction of future IoTs and Ai devices or other plug-in devices tothe cascaded optical, the AC and the low voltage grid and lines of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 19A furthershowing the optical tester and responder of FIG. 16C;

FIG. 20A-20D are illustrative drawings showing the use of the differenttesters and responders of FIGS. 16A-16D for testing the cascaded opticalgrid in different setup and other variations;

FIG. 21 is a block and connections diagram of the lower speed opticaland low voltage bus-line grids, with the POF cable of the optical gridsegments mixed and mingled with the electric power wires and conduitsare all connected into electrical and communications cabinet including adistributor, a command converter and a power supply that are furtherconnected to a controller and plurality of blank wall boxes for futureadditions of IoTs and Ai devices;

FIG. 22 is a similar block and connection diagram to the shown diagramin FIG. 21, connected and operated by dual optical grids with higher andlower speed signals emphasizes by extended IoTs and Ai devices;

FIGS. 23A-23E are illustrations showing the lock and release elements ofthe plug-in boxes and devices including the release steps and processfrom prior to insertion of the release bar into and up-to the removal ofthe pulled plug-in device;

FIGS. 24A-24D are illustrative drawings showing the combining of a cordtied release bars for removing two gang plug-in outlet by four releasebars, a single gang plug-in hybrid switch by dual release bars and anhalf gang plug-in device by a single release bar, with FIG. 24C showingthe half gang structure of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 25A-25C are illustrative drawings showing the other preferredembodiments of the present invention including a molded or structuredholders for the release bars, structured for sliding into guided tracksof a molded handle, or assembled by screws to structured holderassembly, for unlocking and removing a single gang or dual gang plug-indevices of the present invention by a single push and pull action;

FIGS. 25D and 25E are illustrative drawings showing a molded handlesimilar to the handle in drawings 25A-25B but with release and pullelements using hard metal formed rails for the release elements andrectangular cut slots into a formed springy metal sheets for the pullelements, onto top and bottom of an AC outlet and dual sides of hybridswitch shown to be reciprocal molded release ramps onto the plug-indevices, of the other preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 26A-C are illustrative drawing of a molded hand tool and releasebars, structure for self assembly for single gang and dual gang removal,with the release elements detailed in FIGS. 23A-25C are enclosed in thebody of the hand tool, that is convenient and compact to carry and themain preferred embodiment of the present invention for a release handtool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A-1D show and illustrate the known standard electrical wiringdevices and wall boxes and frames for attaching the individually wireddevices onto support frames, with the entire devices are wired andattached to the frame. The frame is attached by frame attaching screwsto a three gang wall box shown in FIG. 1A and further show themechanical attachments into four gang wall box FIG. 1B.

The wiring of the individual standard wiring devices are shown, as anexample, in FIG. 1C.

The well known decorative glass frames is shown in FIG. 1D that is theknown prior art of the standard wiring devices, or electrical wiringdevices, that are wired and mounted individually onto the shown supportframes or directly into the wall boxes.

In clear contrast the wiring devices of the present application aretermed hereafter and in the claims “standard plug-in devices”. Shown inFIGS. 2A-8 are plug-in wiring devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.9,219,358, 9,541,911 and 9,608,418 that are introduced herein byreference.

The communication outlets 44-AU, 44-ANT and 44-C of FIGS. 4D and 5C arenot disclosed in the above references 358′, 911′ and 418′ and arefurther shown in greater details in FIGS. 12B and 12D and 24C-24D arediscussed in details separately.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the structured elements used to mount (install)two switches or hybrid switches 3-S or the AC outlets 211 (a standard USoutlet for 3 pin plug) into a two gang support box 102. The switches orthe hybrid switches comprising SPST 3-S and SPDT 3-D of FIG. 2C and twodual poles versions, reversing DPDT (cross-straight) 3-DR and DPST 3-DSshown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 2B also shows the decorative cover 142 with two push keys, allglass covered. FIG. 2A shows the two gang support box, or theintelligent support box 102, attached to the two gang support frame11-2.

All the references to the elements in FIGS. 2A-3A above are referencesto basic elements used for the plug-in devices of the preferredembodiment of the present invention, wherein each basic detailed elementis used for plug-in insertion of the plug-in devices referenced withnumerical 3-S, 3-SD, 3-DR, 3-DS, 211, 212, 222 and other outlets shownand disclosed throughout the application.

The electrical connections to plug-in devices by push pins arereferenced with alpha numeric L, L1, L2, T, T1, T2, N, and coil terminal38, or the ground receptacle GR. The stop ridges are referenced with 12(the support frame), 22 (the dual gang) and 32 (the single gang),guiding grooves 14, convexes 34, lock ramps 16 (the support frame), 26and 36, bending lock arm 18, and pull ramps (also termed release ramp)27 and 37.

FIG. 2A further shows (partially covered) the receptacle opening LR forthe plug-in Live AC terminal L of the switch or hybrid switch S-3.

FIG. 3A shows the receptacle opening LR (uncovered) of the three gangbox 103 and frame 11-3 and the three switches/hybrid switches 3-Srepeating the shown elements pertaining to the plug-in switches andoutlets, i.e., terminals L and T, the guide grooves 14, the convexes 34,the stop ridges 12 and 32, the lock ramps 16 and 36.

FIG. 3A further shows the locking receptacles 13 and 13A that are alsoshown in FIG. 2A. The locking receptacle 13 and 13A are for locking thedecorative frames by a push, be it plastic molded frames such as 183 orglass covered frames 143 or 142 of FIG. 2A.

The locking and releasing the frames are disclosed further below inconnection with FIGS. 9A-9B.

FIG. 3A further shows the glass elements GL and GL3 for the decorativeglass frame 143 that are bonded to a moulded base frame 153 as well asthe decorating glass covered keys 30G including the transparent portionshown as round indicator area 3-IN but can be other decorative shapedindicator areas, such as star, square or other decorative motifs.

The glass frame and the glass covered keys are disclosed in the priorU.S. Pat. No. 9,608,418 recited above. Some differences can beidentified between the shown glass covered keys in the 418′ that arecuts made to the moulded portion of keys, to enable a free access to therelease bar of the present application into the “channel of ramps”details of which are disclosed further below.

FIG. 3B shows a different support box 103D structured to connect,control and operate dual throw and/or the dual pole switches or hybridswitches, including the DPST 3-DS that switches on-off the live AC viaterminals L and TL and the neutral AC via terminals N and TN shown inFIG. 2C, the terminals of the reversing DPDT 3-DR that reverses the dualtraveler terminals T1 and T2 connections with each switching action, andthe SPDT 3-SD known as three way switch, or switch over the liveterminal L from terminal T1 to T2 or from T2 to T1.

The reverse action, such as switch over, or the dual pole switches, suchas DPST 3-DS or reversing DPDT (known as four way switch) 3-DR use threeor four terminals, for which the support box 103D provides.

The support boxes further shown in FIGS. 4A-9B are therefore provided inmany different versions for combinations of switches, outlets, be it innon intelligent support boxes connected via plug-in terminals and/orreceptacles into reciprocal receptacles and/or terminals and with fullsupporting intelligent circuits, power consuming calculation andreporting/communicating via RFID antenna or optical transceiver, ordirectly with an optoport of the intelligent box or via the plug-inoutlets, shown to be structured for the different types and standard ACplugs, used in different countries and regions.

The commonality of the plug-in AC outlets is in their common plug-instructure and the plug-in terminals that are common to all types wiringdevices and/or other outlet or standard plug-in devices of all countriesand regions.

All are enclosed in a standard plug-in device be it half gang, singlegang, dual gangs, or n gangs. Same applies to the introduction of IoT'sand AI's plug-in devices of FIGS. 12B-12D, including but not limited toenvironment plug-in sensors shown in FIGS. 13A-13C.

FIG. 3B further shows the moulded decorative cover 183 and the mouldeddecorative keys 30P, that use no glass cover, but otherwise provide samestructure, length, width and height that can be exchanged or replace onewith the other, by the users, by simple remove and attach process, asdisclosed further below.

Transforming the fixedly installed prior art wiring devices, into selfupdating designs, color and finishing, with the ability for selfselection and by the user self replacement.

FIG. 4A shows the three gang box model 103A for supporting one three pinoutlet 211 and SPST switch or hybrid switch 3-S, with the outlet 211 isprovided with sensor entry SE shown in FIG. 2C for optical transceiver38-OP or for RFID antenna 39 of FIGS. 4C respectively, for communicatingwith RFID tag 39T, attached to standard 2 pin AC plug 222P.

Both the optical sensor and RFID antenna are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,422,792; 8,594,965; 8,639,465 and 8,930,158.

FIGS. 4A-4C show the elements shown in FIGS. 2A-3B pertaining to thesteps of plug-in, lock, release and remove the plug-in devices. The twodecorative covers, the moulded cover 183 and the glass cover 143including the keys, the moulded key 30P and the glass covered key 30G,with both types of keys include the transparent indicator portion(window) 3-IN.

FIG. 4D shows the two gang support box 902-T containing four half gangplug-in outlets, including telephone outlet 44-TEL, network outlet44-NW, antenna outlet 44-ANT and audio outlet 44-AU, shown to includethe elements for plugging-in two half gang outlets, shown in the supportbox 902-T covered by a glass frame 142, recited to be and referencedwith the same element numericals shown for the plugging-in, locking,unlocking, releasing and removing the hybrid switches shown in FIGS.2A-4C.

The terminals 45 of the half gang outlets 44 shown in FIG. 4D arefurther discussed in connection with FIGS. 5D, 11D, 12D and 24C-24D.

FIG. 5A shows the four gang support box 104 with the glass decorativeframe 144 with the four hybrid switches 3-S, the glass keys 30G, theindicator windows 3-IN, the lock ramp 36 and the pull ramp 37, and theterminals L and T of the switches. All other elements are identical tothe element shown in FIGS. 2A-4D, and need not be repeated. FIGS. 5A-5Care introduced to illustrate the commonality of the many combinations ofthe support boxes and the standard plug-in devices of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5B shows the box 104-2D for two plug-in AC outlet, 211 with threepin US outlet and the US outlet 212 with dual 2 pin sockets, each withone of optical 38-OP communication transceiver access and the other withRFID antenna 39 at the top end of the structured RFID sensor 39 shown inFIG. 4A for communicating at least one way of bidirectionalcommunications with RFID tag 39T or RFID antenna inside the AC plug (notshown).

FIG. 5C shows the four gang box 104-3 to include single US 3 pin plug-inAC outlet and two SPST hybrid switches 3-S. The combined assembly isshown to be covered by the moulded decorative cover and moulded key 30Pwith indicators accesses. The particular elements for the plug-in outletand switches are not referenced in full, and the numericals are limitedto the stop ridge 22, the guiding convex 34, the lock ramps 26 and 36and the pull ramp 27, such that FIGS. 5A-5C cover most of the elementsinvolved in the plug-in, lock, release and remove elements. FIG. 5Cfurther shows references to the neutral AC terminal N for the plug-in ACoutlet and the terminal L (live AC) for one of the two switches shown.

FIG. 5D shows the single and dual gang plug-in communication outlets,shown in FIG. 4D enclosed into an half gang plug-in outlet. The detailsof the communication outlet, including the IoTs and Ai outlets arediscussed further below.

FIGS. 6A-6B show the further combinations via six gang boxes, namely106, 106-3, 106-4 and 106-5. Support box 106 of FIG. 6A is shown withthree SPDT 3-D and three SPST 3-S plug-in switches, three with dualindicator windows and three with single indicator windows. The assemblyin the support box 106 of FIG. 6A is covered by glass decorative frame146 and glass keys 30G-2 and 30G respectively. FIG. 6B shows identicalswitches covered by moulded decorative frame 186 with moulded keys 30P-2and 30P respectively.

The other six gang support boxes 106-3 shows three plug-in outlets 221(DE/EP), 231 (FR) and 241 (ME and EP) as used in the middle east andEurope, and the assembly of UK outlet 261 and dual 2 pin outlets 222 (MEand EP) are also covered by decorative glass frame 146.

FIG. 6B further shows the six gang support box 106-5 containing four 3-S(SPST) plug-in switches operated by moulded keys 30P and US plug-insocket 211 with optical access 38-OP (shown in FIG. 6C).

FIG. 6C further shows the different plug-in outlets and hybrid switchesshown in the six gang boxes of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 6A to FIG. 8 are illustrative presentation of the many differentcombinations including support box sizes such as the eight gang shown inFIGS. 7A-7C. The not shown are the larger support boxes, such as the 10and 12 gang support boxes and frames for as many as 12 plug-in singlegang devices, or the many other variations of given sizes and shapes ofthe support boxes and combinations thereof. This includes dual(parallel) 6 gang frames within a single box for controlling/reportingup to 12 single gang plug-in hybrid switches or six AC outletscombinations thereof or other structured intelligent support box shapesand sizes.

FIG. 8 covers one such variation, wherein all the intelligent supportboxes shown are for vertical mounting into vertically installed wallboxes. Presenting all the sizes referred to above and any combinationsthereof, including the communication plug-in outlets and outlets forplug-in IoTs and Ai combinations (not shown), or provide for directlyplug-in connection for IoTs, Ai and/or combinations thereof.

The IoTs and the Ai plug-in devices communicate from close proximity(literally face to face) with the RFID antennas 39 and/or the opticaltransceivers 38-OP for linking the IoTs and AI communication deviceswith AC support boxes and communicate the data pertaining the deviceactivity via the optical grid connecting said support boxes to acontroller or to appliances and/or via the optical grid of theintelligent support boxes, including via other grids such as wirelessdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,541,511, that is incorporated herein byreference. IoTs and Ai plug-in devices can also communicate via bus-linevia data or protocol converter for reporting power consumed, statusesand other particulars, including appliance or IoT reporting selfstatuses. Appliance or IoT may need to coordinate reported data by otherIoTs or appliances, including the appliance or the IoT location withinthe premises are discussed further below.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the locking elements used for attaching orremoving the glass decorative covers 143 or the moulded decorative cover186, shown as an example. The attaching or removing the decorativecovers are necessary for covering or for accessing the channel of rampsof a given plug-in device.

All plug-in devices plugged into the shown support boxes 102-108, andthe 110 (10 gang) or 112 (12 gang) (not shown), of the preferredembodiment of the present application, cannot be plugged-in or removedfrom the support frame without a first step, which is the removal of thedecorative cover from the support frame and box (any size).

For providing clear description of the introduced reference numerals toAC outlets in FIGS. 7A-7C and FIG. 8 the below outlets referencednumerals shown are the different outlets as used in the many countriesand regions of the world. Each AC outlet is provided for mating with agiven AC plugs of the different countries and regions standards.

The reference 211 refers to the US 3 pin AC outlet also used in Japanand other countries;

212 refers to dual two pin sockets of US outlet as used also in Japanand other countries (the 2 pin AC socket is used also in China);

221 refers to the two round pin and ground contacts of the German andother European countries AC outlet including some Asian countries, suchas Korea;

222 refers to dual two pin sockets as used in Germany, French, themiddle east and many other European, Asian and South American countries,including China as an example;

231 refers to the 3 pin outlet as used in France and Belgium, includesthe dual round pin sockets and a protruding round ground pin;

241 refers to 3 pin outlet as used in the middle east and some Europeancountries;

251/251A are the single and dual sockets for two combination (round (DE)and flat (US) pins and three flat pin including ground pin as used inChina;

261 is a three rectangular pins as used in the UK and also in H.K.;

271 refers to three flat pins as used in China and Australia.

FIG. 9A shows the glass decorative cover 143 as used with the supportbox 103 (any type or version thereof). The cover 143 shown to includetwo different serrated lock bars, four shorter bars 141A aligned withlock structures 13A are used mainly for small support box, such as 102of FIG. 2A.

The reason for using the shorter serrated bars with the lock receptacles13A is the need to have the serrated lock bars at the four corners ofthe decorative cover. In the example shown, the support frame of thesupport boxes 103 and 106 or larger support boxes, a firm locking can beprovided with no reliance on the four corners by the shown longerserrated bar 141 or 181. The 141 and 181 serrated bars ensure properlock onto the wall surface surrounding the support frame for all thesupport boxes sizes.

Important reason is that the receptacles 13A are located at the two endsof the support frame, in a position outside the support frame inner opencavity, i.e., the receptacles 13A may be positioned in a space againstthe cemented wall, and cannot accommodate longer serrated bars, such asthe longer serrated bars 141 or 181 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The serrated bars 141 or 181 are inserted into a receptacles 13 insidethe support frame inner open cavity. The serrated bars 141A and 181A areshorter to prevent an impossible insertion, wherein the bars 141A/181Aare blocked by the cemented wall and cannot be pushed all the way to beflat with the wall.

Further, as explained and detailed below, the insertion of the lockingserrated bars 141 into the lock 13 provide for stronger pressure ontothe bending lock arm 18 that firmly lock the lock ramps 26 or 36 andfurther lock the decorative frame onto the wall surface via more thanfour serrated bars such as the six bars 181 shown in FIG. 9B.

Accordingly it is a question of design choice to introduce n pluralityof serrated bars into the different boxes be it only 141A or 141, orcombinations thereof, or only 181 or 181A or both.

The enlarged cut view show the lock of the serrated bar 141 locked by asharp bulge 13 at the top rear edge of the bending lock arm 18. Thebulge 13 and the serrated bar are structured for the decorative frame tobe firmly locked as it rests flat on the wall surface surrounding thesupport frame.

The decorative frame, be it 143 or 183 or any other locked decorativesupport frame size, can be removed from the wall by a firm pull by aninstaller or the user hands (with no tools).

The serrated bar introduces two advantages, the first is to lock freelyand simply by pushing the decorative frame onto the wall by hand all theway to rest flat with the key's surfaces. The other advantage is thesecuring of the bending lock arm 18 into tight lock position as referredto above, by increasing the flexing arm 15 to a stronger push onto thelock arm 18 to firmly hold or lock the locking ramps 26 or 36 into thelock position, enabling to release the lock only when the decorativeframe is removed.

FIGS. 10A-10C provide detailing and summarizing drawings and referencesto the locking and release elements including the connecting terminalsL, N, L1, L2 and the reciprocal socket G-GND of the plug-in AC outlets241 and 242, including the hybrid switches shown terminals L and C(coil) of switch 3-S and the commonality of the hybrid switches, manualpush key for all disclosed above 3-S to 3-DR switches or hybrid switchesand of the support frame 11, all shown, disclosed and explained above.

FIGS. 10A-10C are introduced to better illustrate all the “standardelements” of the plug-in devices and the support frame in a simple 2D(dimensional) drawing to review and understand, via single page,combining all the related drawings that are shown in perspective viewsabove.

Accordingly, FIGS. 10A-10C can be referred to be a cover all structuresfor the plug-in electrical wiring devices, the communication audio,antenna, telephone and other low voltage sockets terminals and outletsintroduced into structured plug-in enclosure and elements, including thelocking portions of devices such as IoTs and Ai and the optical accessdevices for linking optical POF cable between environment sensors, touchpads, IoTs and Ai devices, used for home automation and are connectedvia optical link via optoports direct to the electrical support boxes orare connected via an optical linking devices such as 80-84 shown in FIG.12A, that provide direct or via interfacing optoports to the opticalgrid OPGL or OPGH or OPGL/H, OPGL+H shown in FIGS. 14C-15.

FIGS. 11A-11E introduce support boxes 902LD and 903LD for supporting arange of well known communication sockets including but not limited tothe shown RJ connector 44-RJ, known as RJ45, RJ11 or other RJ connectorsknown as RJ9, RJ10, RJ25 or RJ61 representing different pins andcontacts count, such as eight contacts for RJ45, as used extensively incomputers and the internet shown as 44-INT, or connecting the other wellknown USB connector referenced 44-USB with CAT5 cable 75.

Further introduced are antenna connector 44-ANT and audio connector44-AU.

The shown connectors are representative connectors, as any type ofexisting passive connectors can be used to replace the shown connectorthat are shown in the processed installation in FIG. 11A and installedinto the “standard plug-in devices” 51, 52 and 54, categorized by thealpha characters C (circle), R (rectangular) or S (square) and shown inFIG. 11D as 51C to be installed with round audio connector 44-AU andanother with round antenna connector 44-ANT.

The other shown audio and antenna connectors are shown in FIG. 11E aredual audio connectors 44-AU, also known as RCA jack, installed into the“standard plug-in device” 52CC having dual circle support for the RCAjack. The other circle connectors, the dual antenna connectors 44-ANTshown mounted on a square metal holder 50S in FIG. 11A, and further isshown installed in dual squares device 52SS in FIG. 11E.

The rectangular shape opening in the connector enclosure 51R of FIGS.11B and 11D-E, show the installed USB connector having a rectangularshape. The USB connector can be replaced with many different well knownconnectors having smaller or bigger or other varying sizes connector,most of which are having a rectangular shape. The shown size fit theolder USB connector, can be structured to smaller current USB connectoror fit other size rectangular or square or circle shape for mountingcurrent and any connectors to be devised in the future.

The connector can be mounted into the enclosure to become as definedabove a “standard plug-in device” for mounting the connectors by aplug-in action be it half gang, single gang, dual gang or n gang device.Wherein more than one, two or four small size connectors (not shown) canbe introduced in larger number into a single or multi socket “standardplug-in device” structure.

The market is experiencing in the past many years, constant changes inconnectors and plugs, that are made smaller, such as used for mobiletelephone device and others.

The “non changing surrounds” are boxes and structures embedded into thewalls, and the need to establish a standard for “evolving structures”,that are evolving and introducing constant changes, make it essential toensure a simple plug-in and removal of connector and plugs to bereplaced by a plug-in action and simple pull removals as disclosed inthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11A-11E there are many different method and structuresto connect different or similar connectors to the support boxes, be it902, 903, 904 or 912 (not shown).

The support boxes can be structured with passages for communication,antenna, audio shielded wire, twisted pairs and/or multi core cablesthrough the cable accesses CA and be connected in the well knownassembly processes shown in FIG. 11A. In the shown example such as usingcrimping tools 440, or the very well known push tool (not shown) forconnecting CAT5 cable to RJ45 connector, or screw on a shielded antennacable, or solder using well known soldering iron (not shown) to solderthe communication wires to the installed socket's pins, terminals orother contacts.

Pushing the cable back into the space behind the support box (within thewall box) for self locking or securing the socket assembly into theshown structured enclosures 51R-54SR-T of FIGS. 11D-E or a not shown 50n enclosure and plugging the assembly into the support box completes theintroduction of the socket onto the wall, followed by attaching thedecorative cover by a plug-in and push action, for completing theintroduction with the box remaining decoratively pleasing, and with nodamages to the wall surface.

The support boxes 902D and 903D are the standard plug-in boxes foraccessing low voltage communication lines to a given one or more lowvoltage connector or socket assembled into standard plug-in enclosure.The boxes 902D and 903D shown are used to support (mechanically)standard plug-in device or enclosure, but do not provide power orinclude circuitry for the purpose of introducing low voltage connectorsand/or outlets.

The shown support box 904T is provided with terminals and contacts 65and 66 for plug-in assembly devices with reciprocal terminals 55 and 56wherein the terminals 56 are power terminals for feeding low voltage DCpower to socket assemblies 54SR, 52CC or 52SS such as shown in FIG. 11E.

The shown assemblies 54SR-T, 52CC-T or 52SS-T incorporate DC power feedthrough the assembled socket 44-TEL or 44-USB or the antenna socket44-ANT or for powering a circuit included in the assembly attached, suchas shown 52CS or 52CC or 52SS, which are an example, but many suchassemblies presently and/or in the future will be introduced.

The connection terminals to the box 904T are identical with theterminals shown in the box 906-M of FIG. 12D showing terminals 65 and 66including the rear accesses 65A for the wire 65B of the box 903 nT thatis an example for different box n sizes, including the box 904T of FIG.11A. Box 906-M further shows two cable accesses CA for the two half gangoutlets 44-NW (network) and 44-INT (internet).

The shown terminals are not identified individually, as they may be usedor provide for different functions, signals and/or different polaritiesof signals and are customized or dedicated to a given plug in device,assembled into the “standard plug-in enclosure” that may consist ofdifferent IoT's or Artificial intelligent devices.

The power terminals of the support box 903 nT are identified as DC+ andDC− terminals for applying DC power to the attached (plugged-in) IoT orAi devices, but can also be used to feed power to a connected outletthat includes among others a DC power feed function, including thecharging of batteries of a given device such as mobile phones, a shaveror a camera.

The shown low voltage devices forming the “standard plug-in device” inFIGS. 11A-11E cover different outlets, connectors connected via attacheddifferent cables such as CAT5, antenna cable and shielded cable, or itcan be any cable and group of wires pulled via the cable access CA,provided in the support boxes and via connecting terminals 55 and 56through reciprocal terminals 65 and 66 included in the support boxes,903MD and 903-2-M shown in FIG. 12B in which the reference M isintroduced for denoting “mix” connections such as via pulled cable andvia terminals combined.

FIGS. 12A to 12C introduces an expanded range of support boxes and“standard plug-in device” to cover extensively the linking of opticalsignals with smart home or apartment optical network and grid that aredisclosed to be mixed and mingled within the electrical grid ducts andpipes for communicating with and between the elements of the dectricalgrid of a given apartment, home, business or public buildings, disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,219,358 and 9,514,490 on one end of the grid andwith command converters and/or distributor/drivers, and/or controllersat the other end of the grid.

FIG. 12A shows “standard optical plug-in devices” 80, 81, 82, 84C and84T structured into a single gang and dual gang standard plug-inenclosures for linking at least one way of a plurality of two wayoptical signals via optoports and POF terminated cables in manyconfigurations for communicating with IoT and/or Ai devices that may notbe attached to the support boxes because of size, such as being large orbulky, or for example by plurality of such IoT and/or Ai devices thatneed to be communicating together via or with the optical network, be itthe higher speed or the lower speed optical communication network orboth, or via a combined lower and higher speed network.

Communicating together through or with the shown optical plug-in devices80-84T may include traffic control or timing circuits to coordinate thecommunicating optical signals with or via the optical network linked viathe support boxes.

Each of the circuits to control the traffic or time the optical signalstransmitted at random, include at least one optical transceiver with anoptical access 67 shown in the rear of the support box 903 nT forlinking terminated cut end of a POF cable by a push action into theaccess 67.

The access 67 is supported by a lock element 67K shown in FIG. 12D,structured into the access, that is released by pushing a release pin67P into a release opening 67A as shown in FIG. 12D being held byfingers, prior to inserting the POF 69-2 held by given fingers of theother hand.

The POF should not be entered or released into and from the accesswithout pushing the release pin simultaneously with the insertion allthe way to ensure physical attachment of the cut end onto the opticaltransceiver surface. The withdrawal of the release pin 67P from therelease opening 67A causes the lock structure to lock the POF intoplace, i.e., disables the pull out of the POF cut end from engaging theaccess 67.

Alternatively, a lock screw head can be used for locking the cut POF endas shown in the prior art of FIG. 1C showing a lock mechanism bytightening a screw head upon the insertion of the cut POF cable, orrelease the screw head locking the access of the cut (terminated) POF.

With the attachment of the cut end of the POF explained, the otheroptical linking via the optical access 68 shown in boxes 103-OP-D,104-OP of FIG. 13B and 106-2-OP-D of FIG. 13C that are AC poweredintelligent support box of the prior art, modified to supportintelligent circuits built into the IoT's, Ai and other standard plug-indevices incorporating low voltage circuit(s), that are powered by apower supply powered by AC power and built into the IoT or Ai deviceenclosure and are attached to an intelligent support box of the priorart as will be explained later below.

Further, the plug-in optical devices 80, 81, 82 and 84T are shown toinclude terminal 55 and/or 56 for connecting electrical signals andpower feed to the shown low voltage devices. Some of the low voltagedevices include regulator for regulating the DC power, such as the powerfed to the CPU and the optoports via well known DC voltage regulator87R, shown in FIG. 17A.

The front and rear sides of the optical device 80 of FIG. 12A show twodifferent set-up, wherein the front view illustrates optical cables 69at both sides, the front via access 67 and the rear view of the opticaldevice 80 illustrates a selective access 67 or 68.

This is important for the understanding the many options and variationsprovided by the combinations of the POF and the optoports. As the IoT'sand Ai's are yet to be massively introduced, the issues involving suchintroduction into the smart home or automated home or whatever term isgiven to the anticipated advanced ideas and electronics into residencesand/or businesses, the main difficulties such new devices pose is how tolink them to the electrical grid of a home or an office or a restaurantor a shop.

The above is due to the prohibition to connect low voltage copper lines(wires) to AC wall boxes or mingled with AC wires.

The signaling at present time for home automation and to very limitedappliances that are RF (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UHF and other allowablefrequencies), some of which include a “traffic” control programming ofsignal based on carrier frequency and/or modulation etc., but do notprovide, at or as of current time, practical means to communicate withthe internal electrical grid and its elements as used in buildings, andcannot deny or block wireless “trafficking” from neighboring apartments,houses or buildings.

The inability to prevent collision transforms the propagated RF signalto a non reliable means for communicating in a crowded environment (manyelectrical devices and elements) within a confine of an apartment or ahouse, office, or other business unit. The RF will be discussed furtherbelow.

The “bulky” or a large IoT or Ai device referred to above, is areference to an outer size or dimension of an IoT or Ai devices. Suchlarge IoT or Ai device may, for example, need to be placed on a shelf orbe structured into an enclosure in a shape of a framed art work (notshown) hanged on a wall, to camouflage an Ai device to be a framedpainting. Such device will over cover the support box and its decorativecover.

The larger device need to be linked and powered via at least one plug-indevice discussed later below. The need to link optically via terminatedcut POF is provided via, as an example, the optical accessing device 80of FIG. 12A. Hence the need to provide at least one optical access to acut (terminated) POF via the plug-in device top cover, shown to beprovided in the devices 80 or 81 of FIG. 12A, can be a physical guidefor inserting all the way to an access 68 shown in boxes 104-2-OP or906-M of FIGS. 12C-12D.

Such device with at least one access shown as 80, 81, 82 and 84 or 84Tcan be used for such purpose. The device 84T is shown with the cover 84Premoved, revealing four accesses 67A each with the release opening 67B,same as shown in FIG. 12D discussed above.

The POF 69 introduced through the plug-in device 84 of FIG. 12A areshown to exit the rear of the body 84C. The POF is entered into theshown access 67A and locked by the release pin 67P as explained above.In fact shown four (or more) POF cables can be introduced through thefront cover 84P of the plug-in device 84, two are shown in the plug-indevice 82 or all may be reduced to one only POF terminated by cut.

The introduced POF cut into an access 67 that provides entry all the wayto the surface of the optical transceiver 68, inside the box 906-M andlocked into position via the release pin 67P used against the releaseopening 67B of the plug-in device 84T.

With the one and up to four, or more (not shown), the linking of thefour (or more) POF cut are attached and locked to the inner cover 84C.The process is complete by attaching the top cover 84P of the enclosure,using its mechanical lock bars 84A and the bar receptacles 84B forlocking the top cover by a push-in of the cover onto the enclosure tocomplete the POF connections between the larger or bulky IoT or Aidevice to the “standard plug-in optical device” 84, or 82 or 81 whichcan be structured the same way, with the exception of the number ofoptical accesses.

The “standard plug-in optical device” can be further structured in atleast two ways, one is for providing optical link via (for example) dualoptical accesses 68, one at the rear surface of the optical plug-indevice and the other at the front surface of the support box be it102-112 or 902-912 box, having their transceiver optical surface alignedwith the physical surface of both the support box and the rear of the“standard plug-in optical device” and with both are positioned to facethe other optoport 68 directly, to provide direct linkage between eachreceiver and each emitting transmitter, in a perfect alignment,improving substantially the communication flow.

The circuit and the power feed for the plug-in optical devices with theoptoports 68 are connected via the terminals 65 and 66 respectively. Thesignal terminals 65 and the power terminals 66 are either connected tothe elements of the circuits of the box 903 nT including the DC powerfeed via the terminals DC and DC, but can also be separately fed by asolid wire 65B (such as AWG24 as used in a solid twist pair), to beinserted by a push into the push-in receptacle 66A. Same apply to theidentical signal wire 65B inserted by push in to the receptacles 65A,shown in FIG. 12D.

The other optical link between the standard plug-in optical device andthe support box 902-912 is, for example, via the optical device 84Tshown with its top cover 84A removed provided with push-in terminals 65and/or 66 (not shown) for feeding DC power and connecting signalsbetween the IoT or the Ai device and the support box, such that theplugged in optical device 84T including a built-in insulated DC powersupply for DC power feed to, as an example, the large framed artwork Aidevice referred to above.

It is further possible to use the optical device 84T as a junctionconnecter for both the optical via n optical accesses at the surface ofthe plug-in support box and via the push-in terminal, in manycombinations, in which different circuits can be introduced into a given“plug-in optical module”, for connecting “specific” or “customed” or“selected from a group” of “plug-in optical modules” for connectingdifferent IoT's and/or Ai on the basis of differing functions, speed,structure and usage.

Moreover, the shown intelligent support box 103-2 of FIG. 4A and the ACoutlet 211 (US) of FIG. 4B show the direct optical accesses 38-OP to beengaged with the AC plug 211P optical access by plugging the AC plug211P into the AC outlet 211. This enables the circuits referred to the“standard plug-in optical module” be incorporated into an AC outlets oran AC plug for the most simple plug-in solution for a portable ormovable IoT and/or Ai device, that is not installed into or onto a wall.

The circuits to control the signal's traffic are discussed furtherbelow.

From the above explanation, it should be clear that the use of the“standard plug-in optical devices” introduces a whole new concept andpractical solutions for propagating and trafficking optical signals,using any optical cables such as fiber optic cable or plastic opticalfiber having different core diameter, including a preferred lmm diametercore size of the POF cable that offer a perfect solution for opticalcommunications, covering the whole of smart home's devicescommunications in a cascaded optical linking, within a confine of anapartment, office, shop, restaurant and other business units.

The introduction of the optical access 68 onto the front surface of theintelligent support boxes enables to introduce IoT's and/or Ai devices,such as the shown camera 98 into an AC powered intelligent support box104-2-OP of FIG. 12C. Three cameras are shown in FIGS. 12B, 12C and 12D.The camera 98B is attached by a cable (CAT5 for example) through apassage CA in the box 903-2-M of FIG. 12D that also includes dualoptical access 68, and the camera 98B is powered by or via contacts 56.

The camera 98A of FIG. 12D is shown to be linked via the optical access68 and powered via the terminal 66 shown in the box 906-M, and asreferred to above, the camera 98 is shown powered by AC power and islinked via the optical access 68 of the intelligent support box 104-2-OPof FIG. 12C, clearly attesting the high flexibility to adapt IoT or Aidevices to different structures, powering, signal speed, electricalconnections and power feed.

In the shown examples, the voice (or audio) box 954A is shown in FIG.12D connected to the terminals 65 and 66 of box 906-M, but it can bedifferently connected via any of the connections disclosed above forconnecting the cameras 98, 98A or 98B.

The providing of intelligent or smart or IoTs or Ai devices withconnections capabilities such as contacts 55 and 56, or AC terminal Land N and/or GND, or a direct cable connections, or an optical linkdirectly via optical transceivers of the smart devices and theintelligent support box, and/or via optical cable passing through the“standard plug-in optical device”, enables different linking andconnecting configurations, so as to fit a given structured “standardplug-in device” in many forms, including large and bulky IoTs and Aidevices that can be linked to either intelligent support 102-112 boxesor to 902-912 standard plug-in boxes or simply to “support boxes” andbeyond.

The non detailed elements of FIGS. 12A-12D discussed above are briefedbelow to show the inter compatibility between the different boxes andthe standard plug-in devices.

As referred to above, the electric and building codes deny anyintroduction of low voltage wires into electrical wall boxes that are asimple mechanical box, made of metal or plastic materials, or to anydevices fixedly attached to, or to be attached to the electrical wiringdevice (within the wall box).

The codes however do not deny the use of AC operated devices thatinclude low voltage circuitry, built into (internal) to the device, suchas mobile phone charger. The codes deny any wires or terminalsconnecting the low voltage circuitry (non insulated), from being exposedor connected to and from the socket access (front) of such AC operateddevice.

In the present invention, this issue is well preserved. One isconnecting low voltage devices via low voltage support boxes orintelligent or smart boxes 902-912 (908-912 are not shown).

The shown and/or disclosed smart or intelligent support boxes 102-112are structured for the linking of optical signals via optical cable tooptical accesses that are permitted to be included, mixed or mingledwith electrical wires within the box interior or the wires ducts andpipes or outside or in the vicinity of the electrical wall box andwires.

FIG. 12B shows the support box 903MD for attaching three single gangstandard plug-in devices. The shown standard plug-in devices includedummy device 52D to cover a non used single gang space, with otherstandard plug-in dummy devices (not shown) for covering unused pluralityof gang spaces.

The second standard plug-in device is the shown standard plug-in opticaldevice 82 with dual optical accesses shown as 67, but can furtherinclude the release opening 67A or be accesses 68, as referred above tothe shown optical device 82, or the shown optical device 80 or 84C, butwith dual optical links. The third is a plug-in outlet 44-Tel in anenclosure 52S-T discussed above, for connecting a telephone line to afixed line telephone.

FIG. 12B further shows a low voltage support box 903-2-M for supportinga camera 98B operated on low voltage feed via terminals 66 andcommunicate via a connected cable 75, such as CAT5 or similar cable withfewer twisted pairs, such as three pairs only, and an outlet44-AU+44ANT, wherein the antenna cable feeds power to a parabola antennawith power fed through the standard plug-in device 52CC-T via theterminals 56 and 66.

FIG. 12C shows an intelligent support box 104-2-OP that is a four gangbox with a capacity to support dual AC outlets of the prior art. Theshown optical access 68 is the modified optical access 68 discussedabove to be an optical access 68 aligned to be flat with the box innersurface, for enabling optical link to, in the present example, thecamera 98.

The camera 98 is the camera that includes an AC switching power supply(not shown), a lens 44-CM, an illumination sensor 91 and a flash light92 for taking picture in under illuminated areas. The camera 98 isadjacent to an AC outlet 211, described above to be a standard plug-inAC device (US 3pin outlet). The combination of AC powered camera 98 andAC outlet 211 with optoport OP-38 plugged into the intelligent supportbox.

The U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,219,358 and 9,341,911 of the prior art show anddisclose the optical access to be an optical sensor structure as shownin FIG. 12C to be extended through the sensor entry SE shown in FIG. 2Cof the AC outlet 211 or 212. Accordingly it should be obvious that thejoining of the camera 98, be it IoT or Ai device, with the AC outlet 211into the intelligent AC support box is in full compliance with thebuilding and electric codes.

FIG. 12D shows six gang low voltage support box 906-M for introducingfive standard plug-in devices, including the referred to above audio orvoice box 954A with microphone 94 and speaker 93, similar to thedisclosed speakers in U.S. Pat. No. 8,131,386 structured into two gangstandard plug-in enclosure, powered and communicated via the terminal 66and 65 disclosed above.

The other standard plug-in device, a camera 98A similar to the referredto above, but powered and operated by low voltage DC via terminal 66and/or 65. The other standard plug-in devices shown are dual 44-ANToutlets in a single gang 52CC-T, and dual half gang enclosure 51S and51R both connected via CAT5 cable 75 to their assembled outlets 44-INT(internet) and 44-NW (network) with the cable fed through the showncable accesses CA.

The combinations or the mix of the different support boxes via lowvoltage bus line and DC power grid, the AC power grid and the opticalgrid attached to electric grid via the different intelligent supportboxes 102-112 or larger.

The low voltage support boxes, the different standard plug-in devices,the different powering and connection methods, via different sockets andoutlets and different plug-in devices to include electrical wiringdevices, low voltage devices, IoT's and Ai devices in a mix and match,into a common optical grid or grids, combined with the electric gridand/or further combined with the low voltage grid, is vast in itscombinations capabilities.

The above should make it further clear and obvious to be providingflexibility and practical low cost solutions to the smart homes andsmart cities of the future and enhances the practical usability of IoT'sand Ai devices, to be designed with simple to install onto wall by aplug-in action and simultaneously connect the IoTs and Ai devices by thesame plug-in action.

FIGS. 13A-13C disclose such future IoT's and Ai devices that are notdefined at present time, but are known to be communicating via Wi-Fi,Bluetooth or other RF signals with no standard of installing, poweringor connecting to the residences, businesses or public premises. The IoTsand the Ai are looking for means to make them practical, which is amajor object of the present invention.

The functions of the shown IoTs and Ai devices in FIGS. 13A-13C are notwhat the present invention and claims are. Their physical structure,signaling, powering, optical links and connections are one of the majorobjects of the present application and claims.

Wherein the IoT 951 and Ai 952 of FIG. 13A are attached by plug-inaction to the wall as a single unit, or as a separate standard plug-inenclosure and a cover all front panel. Wherein the plug in enclosure andthe front panel are attached with the ability to be detached from thesupport box for the purpose of removal as will be disclosed furtherbelow.

Wherein the IoT 951 and the Ai 952 are plugged into a support box103-OP, 103-OP-D (dual optic grids (or dual optical speed signals) tolink and communicate via a single optical grid), 104-OP or 106-2-OP-Dwith plug-in devices, may include or not include, the serrated bars,such as 141 or 181 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The issues involved are the holding force of the devices and theattachment to be flat with the wall surface, that is a user choice, fora selective structures, a single structured devices to include adecorative frame or a whole cover into a single structured unit, orcombined into one support box, two or more separated unit and/orstructures, such as shown in IoT 956 of FIGS. 13B and 13C, wherein the956 of FIG. 13C is combined into a single structure.

Both, IoT 951 that is shown as a touch pad for controlling heating temp.939 via “up” 938 and “down” 938A touch icons, and further provide forcontrolling an HVAC 934 with up-down touch control icon 933 includingthe HVAC fan 935 via “up” 937 and “down” 937A icon, water heater(boiler) via touch icon 931, oven via touch icon 932 and ceiling fancontrol via touch icon 936.

The Artificial intelligence Ai device 952 shows icon display andindicators to indicate and display environment statuses for identifyingthe statuses of varying environment appliances and of the environmentsensors, including statuses of shutters, blind and curtains and/or otherelements shown as symbols or icons 940-949.

The IoT's and Ai's shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C are shown assembled intostandard plug-in devices with n gangs, such as the IoT 956 of FIGS. 13Band 13C is shown to be a three gang plug-in device with dual opticalaccesses 68.

The optical accesses 68 are shown in the inner front of the intelligentsupport box 103-OP-1-D. The IoT device 956 includes DC power supplyregulator powered by AC power fed via the rear terminals L (live) and N(neutral), such as shown in the rear of the box 106 of FIG. 13C.

The intelligent support box 104-2-OP is an AC powered support box forcombining IoT and hybrid switch 3-S into the electric and optical grids.The rear surface of the intelligent support box 104-2-OP is similar tothe shown support boxes 103 and 106 of FIG. 13C, with its entireconnections are to N and L AC terminals and to one, two or n pairs ofdual in-out optoports shown as 67 for the POF cut end 69, secured intoplace by the release pin 67P.

The “optoport” is a trade mark by the applicant for one or two wayoptical accesses, for propagating one of two way optical signals,through each optoport, thereby providing a junction for a four wayoptical signals via single cascaded line of optical cable.

The single cascading optical cable is shown in FIG. 1C of the prior artconnected to an optoport of a relay and the next cut is shown connectingthe other transceiver of the first optoport with a first optoport of asecond relay, with the second (other) transceiver of the optoport of thesecond relay is shown connected to a next cascading POF cut, disclosedto be (the link) to the next optoport.

As explained above, two or more band widths for optical signalspropagating lower and higher speed signals via one or two grids, may beprovided for the optical communications with the IoT's and Ai's of agiven premises. As will be explained further below, the circuit and theoptoport optical elements and the CPU costs are higher than those of thelower speed and/or lower band width propagated by the intelligentsupport boxes of the electrical grid, operating via a lower speedsignals, explained later below.

The approximate number of wiring devices for common residential unit of120-150 m² (1200-1500 feet²) is fifty, and approximate twenty fiveintelligent support boxes (103-104). The larger boxes 106-112 are veryfew or none in residences.

The CPU and the optical transceivers for the intelligent support boxes(102-112) are low cost elements. Linking all the cascaded POF lines viasingle high speed to cover all optical communications, including the lowvoltage support boxes (902-912) discussed above, or via two POFcascading lines present issues of costs, installation complexity and thenumber of boxes in a given premises. The issues are therefore issues ofchoice, be it cost, complexity, installation or combined, all will beexplained and discussed further below.

The shown three optoport pairs in box 903 nT of FIG. 12D, the boxes 106and 103 of FIG. 13C represent one or two or more optoport pairs by anyof the boxes, be it the intelligent support box 102-112 or low voltagesupport box 902-912 (not all shown).

FIG. 14A shows the conceptual four way optical junction circuitcomprising dual transceiver circuits 67L disclosed in the prior art tobe comprising a photo transistor 68PT-1 and 68PT-2 and an LED 68L-1 and68L-2 combined into two single opto coupler IC packages each with singleoptical access 67CSL. Optical access is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,041,221 and 8,340,527, that together form the lower speed junction JL.

The accesses size (diameter) including the POF cut are shown enlarged toprovide better view of the transceiver and the access structure. Each ofthe access 67CS is linked by an attached POF 69-1 and 69-2 shown in FIG.14A to be an identical access 67CS to receive from or transmit tooptical signal between any two accesses of any optical communicatingdevices, including but not limited to such as between two intelligentsupport boxes 102-112, or between two support boxes 902-912, or betweenintelligent support box and standard plug-in support box, or between anyof the boxes and at least one of a distributor and/or one of a commandconverter and a controller and any combinations thereof.

In a one way of two way optical signal, for example 10K baud or less,propagated via a 1-30 meter long optical (POF) cable, the incidences ofsignal collisions are very rare. Particularly when the propagated signalis a short command of an embedded protocol, such as five bytes commandor be it five bytes inquiry or response of approximate 50 mSec.duration, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722.

The shown left side receiver 68PT-1 in FIG. 14A will detect an on goingpropagated signal via the POF 69-1 “instantly” (depend on its speed),wherein the term instantly refers to time units measured in nano sec. ormicro sec. or milli sec.

The CPU is programmed to block an intended transmission by thetransmitter 68L-1 of the left optical access via the POF 69-1 of FIG.14A. Same applies to the right side transceiver linked via POF 69-2, theCPU blocks an intended transmission via the LED 68L-2 if the phototransistor 68PT-2 detects a signal (light pulse or light).

With the on going propagated optical signal completed, and no furtheroptical propagation is detected during a programmed time units via I/OR8 of the CPU 87P, the photo transmitter (LED) 68L-2 will be driven viathe I/O T8 of the CPU 87P to proceed instantly with the transmission ofthe intended command.

Most of the known home automation circuits are operated and controlledby set of given embedded protocols, commands and programs. The protocolsor the commands can be made short as disclosed in above U.S. Pat. No.8,170,722, thereby a delay in a transmission will be a short timeduration, measured in nano, micro or milli seconds, that does notdisrupt the automation operation.

The applicant's automation coding disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722,as an example, provides control mediums via two way propagated IRcommand that are optical signals transmitted and received in open airand are well known to be operating at 600 bits per sec. The IR remotecontrol dominates as of present time, almost all known remote controlledappliances globally (published to be some 97% of).

The applicant adopted a modified 600 bit/sec. control signal speed, viaan expanded program, for the optical control and command communication,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722 and corresponding issuedpatents in other countries and regions.

The limit of each command to a protocol structure of five byte (40 bit),for communicating a single command or response to be within timeduration of some 50 milli seconds, or 0.05 sec. is insignificant delay.

In fact a delay between 0.05 to 0.5 sec. is considered an insignificanttime duration for operating electric appliance(s), within the humanhabitual expectation to “instant” action, such as switch lights on oroff.

In fact, a fraction of a second represent “a range of” time duration (ordelay) for the pushing or toggling the mechanical lever of switchesand/or the operating of relays, used to switch the power to electricaldevices and appliances connected to the electric grid of a givenpremises.

The present invention moves further to expand upon the grid to includeIoT's and Ai devices, that operate among others on the basis of datafeed and data exchange. Data transactions and/or exchanges mandatehigher speed and substantial band width for transacting “n” Bytes. Suchhigher speed calls for peer to peer communication such as RF (Wi-Fi). RFwill be faster when it is secured for direct exchanges between IoT's,Ai's and Wi-Fi router.

However, to enable the IoT's and Ai's devices to operate via a givenWi-Fi channel or other wireless channels, does not and cannot link theIoT's and/or the Ai's with the electrical grid and devices, thereby theIoTs and Ais cannot report the statuses of the plug-in electricaldevices nor operate or control the linked appliances or report the powerconsumed.

To this end the present invention introduces a novel communications andcontrol by; i. linking IoT's and/or Ai plug-in devices to the opticalgrid via the intelligent support boxes, ii. providing standard lowvoltage plug-in boxes linked via the lower speed or/and at least onehigher, selective communication signal and speed, and iii. furtherintroduces a novel control elements for self controlling the opticaltraffic, propagated via the cascaded optical networks, wherein eachaccess LJ or HJ controls the traffic between two adjacent accesses (LJor HJ) by self suspending an intended transmission whenever optical“suspend” pulse or signal is detected.

The control is further augmented by including at least one RFtransceiver in a given intelligent device of a given cascade line,and/or into home automation network device, such as a distributor 570and/or a main controller 560 linked to the electric grid network and/orto a command converter 580, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,639,465converting any of the RF, optical or bus line signals.

Each plug-in box of an optically linked cascaded plug-in boxes is linkedto two independent accesses left and right, with the exception of a gridwith single segment to a single device, or to the last device of anoptical cascaded chain, that are linked to only one access (left orright).

Each CPU of each linked plug-in box is processing simultaneously twoindependent or related optical signals via two accesses can transmit orsuspend via one of the linked access or both accesses, instant or atdifferent random timing, or transmit two different commandssimultaneously via its dual accesses (left and right) instantly ordelayed.

Accordingly, each CPU 87U of FIG. 17A of the standard plug-in box andthe CPU of FIG. 18 of the intelligent support box of the prior art linksall the cascaded junctions, be it 67JL, single or plurality of 67 tH orcombined to the left and right with the exception of the single plug-inbox or the last plug-in box that links only to the left or right.

Alternatively, each plug-in box can receive optical signal from theleft, the right or both randomly, or can receive simultaneously twodifferent protocols or data such as receiving commands or data from oneaccess and for propagating the signal or signals to the device CPU 87Uof FIG. 17A for further propagating the command or commands or data or acombination of data and commands to the opposite access, as directed bythe command made to a given address of one other access included in thecascaded optical chain as recorded with particulars in each of theplug-in boxes of the given grid.

This mandates an explanation. If the adjacent plug-in box is furtherlinked to n cascaded plug-in boxes, be it to the left and right plug-inboxes, each of the interim CPU can receive commands or data from leftand right, if both were transmitted simultaneously.

The concept of such cascaded communication is to communicate with anaddressed plug-in box only. All interim junctions ignore the commandreceived, either from the left or the right, that is addressed toanother plug-in box further down the left or the right of the commandprocessing junction. With each CPU re-propagates the re-generatedcommand through its left or right transmitter (LED).

If both left or right side optical receivers 68PT-1 of junction C and68PT-2 of junction A of FIG. 14C received a command or datasimultaneously, both transmitters 68L-1 and 68L-2 will proceed andre-propagate the received commands to both adjacent junctionssimultaneously, directed to junction n and to a controller accessrespectively, as per the read command address and retransmit theprocessed and re-generated command further via the CPU 87P-A, B and Cand via the I/O ports of the CPU A and C simultaneously, butindependently from each other.

The advantage of the optical cascaded chain become further evident bythe ability to detect a propagated signal from a given plug-in device ofa given plug-in box to be a signal that is present only between twoadjacent plug-in boxes, with all other junctions and plug-in devices cancommunicate independently with a further adjacent plug-in device,provide a practical solution with a maximum delay time of 50-100 mSecthrough six lower speed JL cascaded plug-in boxes.

This covers the receiving or transmitting a command from an opticaland/or including low voltage bus-line via the distributor 570 or thecommand converter 580 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, to distribute theoptical signal to an n linked plug-in boxes and plug-in devices asdisclosed further below.

The number of the communicating devices can reach 100 or more via, forexample, eight (shown in FIG. 21) or sixteen (n) individually cascadedoptical lines, each linking up to, for example, six intelligent supportboxes (102-112) and/or plug-in boxes (902-912) or plug-in devices,having a propagation delay within a fraction of a second.

This includes the lower speed communication signal such as 600 bit persecond, with each segment of each cascading line transacts the signal at50 mSec. (max) or for a total delay of such as 0.2-0.3 Sec. forpropagating through six support boxes, be it any of the 102-112 supportboxes or any of the 902-912 plug-in boxes or be any other larger sizesupport box for supporting n plurality of IoT's, Ai or electrical wiringdevices linked via the shown junctions, be it JL or any of the JH ofFIGS. 14C or 15A-15E.

The distributor 570 that distributes individually one, n or all of thecascaded n lines, or to any combinations of lines, be it the cascadingoptical grids, or a bus-line (low voltage) communication gridssimultaneously, or individually, or a combination of number of grids(optical and/or bus line) simultaneously.

The circuit of each transceiver of the lower speed access 67CSL of FIG.14A comprising an LED 68L-1 or 2, a photo transistor 68PT-1 or 2, acapacitor C1 for noise filtering, resistors network comprising R2 and R3for providing ground reference and serial resistor with a diode D1 toground, with the junction of C1, R3 and R2 is the feeding point of thereceived single to an I/O port shown to be I/O R7 or R8 of the CPU 78P.

The cathode of the LED 68L-1 or 2 is connected to the VCC and the anodeis controlled via I/O port T7 or T8 of the CPU 87P.

As the photo transistor converts the optical signal into electriccurrent signals, and amplifies the detected light signal, the phototransistor need no further signal processing of the propagated signal,via a terminated POF segment within a length of 40-50 m or 120-150 ft.,terminated by a sharp guillotine cut tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,453,332 and 8,594,956.

Moreover, as each intelligent support box and/or standard plug-insupport box regenerate freshly the command (including the commandaddress), enabling the cascading grid to stretch into 300 meter (1000feet) to be longer than any literal single line of an electric grid inresidences or businesses size, within the limitation (imposed ontoelectrical grids) for distribution of power within a given unit of agiven building, for any activities. Such limitation are common to anyknown region or country codes and rules, for a single electric grid (ina residence or business unit) extending to over 300 meter.

FIG. 14B shows a novel higher speed junction H for the cascading POF69-1 and 69-2. As stated above IoT's and Ai devices cannot be limited tocommunicate a pre-programmed protocols, commands or responses only. IoTsand Ai must respond to differing circumstances fed by sensing, ormeasuring different environments or sources, and cannot or should not belimited to a pre-conceived limitation.

Ai devices must be provided with data to conceive and predict by selfanalysis of the surrounding statuses and conditions correctly. The Ai orIoTs must communicate substantial data that may stretch intosubstantially far more than the short protocols or commands propagatedvia the lower speed junction JL of FIG. 14A.

The difference is in the receiver circuit, wherein the photo transistoris adequate with clear advantage for controlling and reporting theelectrical devices status at the lower speed. The use of phototransistor for the receiving element is far cheaper and simpler,requiring no further active component circuits. The photo transistortherefore the preferred choice for the intelligent grid, structured forresidences and businesses, for electrical control and reporting.

The junctions circuit JH of FIG. 14B can be used to replace thejunctions JL of FIG. 14A for providing higher speed and bandwidth to theoptical grid OPGH of FIG. 15A, or augment the circuits of the individualboxes and the whole of the grid shown in FIG. 14C to be a combined gridOPGH/L of FIG. 15B.

The higher speed circuits of the junction JH of FIG. 14B are augmentedby replacing the photo transistor 68PT with a photo or opto diode 68PD,as the photo diodes operate at far higher frequencies and bandwidth. Thephoto diodes signal however, at the higher frequencies range, is aminute current signals in the nano/micro Ampere units and range. Suchminute signal cannot be converted into usable signal levels and requiresactive components for signal processing.

This mandates the introduction of trans-impedance or operationalamplifiers 86C (op-amp.) to convert and amplify the signal into adetectable-manageable signal by a CPU, such as 87P.

The signal output of the receiver 68PD-2 however further needs to beprocessed, shaped and compared with an original propagated data signalsto ensure that no error readings of data will occur. This can be tested,verified or calibrated by an optical signal tester/calibrator shown inFIG. 16 that is disclosed further below.

The receiving circuit of the receiver 68PD-2 further includes pulseshaper 86D that feed a clean shaped received signal to the I/O R2 of theCPU 87P and further connect via a “level set” line to the I/O T2 foradjusting the signal level by the CPU, as set by the tester/calibrator810 of FIG. 16B to be discussed further below.

The other receiver 68PD-1 of FIG. 14B includes the op-amp ortrans-impedance amplifier 86A of FIG. 14B for amplifying a detectedsignal at random for preventing signal collision. This mandates thefollowing explanation.

Signal collision is defined as signal at opposing ends of acommunication line collide before reaching their destination at the endof the line, at either end.

The “academic” limit for collision prevention via copper wire thatpropagate the electric signal at approximate speed of or at about halfthe light speed C (C+2) is 100 meter. The “academic” length of opticalfiber cable propagating optical signal speed at about 70% of lightsignal is about 70 m.

Accordingly, on the basis of the academic or the rule of a thumb, thesignal speed in copper wire (twist pair) is 0.4-0.7 of the light speedof 300,000,000 m, i.e., ranges from 4.7 nSec./m to 8.3 nSec./m or0.47-0.83 μSec. per 100 m.

The fiber rule of thumb is 200,000,000 m/Sec., but it is slower forthicker core, such as the POF. With that said the signal propagationspeed via POF is safely considered to be 0.5 μSec./100 m. If we limitthe cable length to 50 m only, the max delay of signal sensing at theother end of the POF cable will be 0.25 μSec. or 250 nSec.

The propagation physics impose limitation to communicating opticalsignal via the cascaded POF segment chain that need to be re-visited, tobetter understand the issues involved.

-   -   i. The POF communication segment links two adjacent optoports        only.    -   ii. Each optoport connects its receivers and transmitter via the        CPU 87P, not via another optical elements of the access. This        makes the collision issues a strict issue of signal collision of        a stand alone single POF stretch of 50 meter long (max), linking        directly via its two terminated ends to two photo/opto accesses        or ports.    -   iii. The line can transmit from one optoport to a second        optoport or reversely transmit from second optoport to the one        optoport, and must be prevented from two way simultaneous        transmission through the single segmented POF.    -   iv. Both optoports receiving circuits are connected to and are        ready to receive and communicate via the explained above        circuit, at all times, with a reference to a dual or two I/O        ports of the CPU 87P, making the dual CPU's and the two        optoports (the two accesses) on both ends of the POF segment to        be the elements involved in denying transmission to avoid        collisions.    -   v. As the only link between the two adjacent accesses 67 is a        single POF cable segment, self denial or self blocking of a        transmission at any one end of the POF, by one of CPU's involved        is the most effective method (within the shortest disruption        time duration).    -   vi. Any “request for transmission permission” will take far        longer than self denial, as request and approval mandates two        way protocols.    -   vii. The only practical issue may arise if the two adjacent        support boxes intend to transact data or protocol signals as        received from the next adjacent junction in the cascade at the        same time (in micro or milli seconds coincidence), prior to the        I/O ports of the CPU 87P receive the processed communication        (command or response or power consumption reporting).    -   viii. The conclusion of such delay (in a choice of time and        signal speed) represent a choice or choices, depending on        practical anticipated performances in communicating data and/or        command protocols, including responses versus the issues of        costs as disclosed above.

It is important to note that CPU is or will be “aware” of the on-goingthrough it, and if the two receiving I/O ports of the same junction arereceiving possible colliding signals from the two adjacent junctions,the CPU can block both received signals instantly.

The practical realities are that a segment of cascaded line combinedinto the electrical ducts, pipes and network inside a confined premises,is rarely beyond 30 m (100 ft.) and an high speed signal such as 500kbit (or 500 kHz) is well above the practical need for internalcommunication between electrical and IoT's or Ai devices. Higher needsfor such communication set-up can be provided at low cost RF circuitsand antennas, such as for Wi-Fi communication via routers and theinternet.

The solution considering of all the above, is to provide practicalsignal speed of 100 kbit (100 kHz), enabling the use of a practicalmedium cost high speed photo diode 68PD, and single op-amp, AGC ortrans-impedance amplifier 86C or other sensitive linear amplifier,referred to in the disclosure and the claims as the “receiving”elements, to feed the incoming signal to both the pulse shaper 86D andthe mono stable circuit 86B, for triggering a self delay time pulse, toblock the intended transmit protocol or data by the adjacent CPU, “well”prior to propagating the first byte of the five bytes are sent. The wellprior can last from micro sec. to milli sec. time units.

When no signal is detected followed by a “programmed re-verify durationand/or the suspend pulse” propagated (for example 5 mSec. delay) isreceived via the optical transceivers 68L, through the POF by theadjacent receiving junction. The suspend pulse prevents any intendedtransmission thereby preventing a collision.

The prevention concept can be summarized as; “first to transmit thesuspend pulse is the one to continue with the transmission when thepulse is over”. To further summarize, the system is programmed tooperate on the basis of “first to intent will be first to transmit”, andwill proceed with the transmit process when the suspend pulse and theverifying duration is over.

The other end of the POF segment, i.e., of the adjacent junction thatalso intend to transmit will generate, for example, five milli sec.pulse at the end of the transmitted protocol or data stream, and willfollow with the intended transmission, thereby preventing a collision.

To avoid error in detecting the end of the transmission the CPU isprogrammed for a time duration verification that no further signal ispropagated, based on which the adjacent junction can proceed with itsintend to transmit pulse.

In other words, the transmitting access generates a short delay pulseof, for example, 5 mSec. commanding the receiving access (that may“intend to transmit”) to transmit only after the transmission of acommand (or data) is completed.

Such introduction of a short delay time into a given segment of acascade line is novel, yet it sets a constant delay time, of for examplen units of nano, micro or milli sec. delay, which duration is in fact,an insignificant for internal communication between cascaded devices ofa given optical grid, linked to an electrical power grid including smartor intelligent home devices, such as future IoTs and/or Ai devices forcontrolling and operating home automation elements via an homeautomation grid.

The choice to provide the optical access with one only photo diode ortwo or more is a question of costs. If the choice is to furtherpropagate higher speed signals, for example 10 M bit or 10 MHz, whereany delay become meaningful, the use of a very fast photo diode andcircuits, such as 500 MHz trans-impedance amp. and comparator, as wellas high linear and high accuracy signal shaper and fast processing monostable devices, or use a high speed CPU for such purposes. But thecircuits to provide a communication speed of 10 MHz (as an example)between standard plug-in devices in peer to peer Wi-Fi or Bluetooth ispractical, and such RF circuits and antennas shown in FIG. 17A can beused.

The cascaded optical grid OPG-L for the lower speed signals is shown inFIG. 14C linked by POF 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-4-n via three junctionsA-B-C and n (not shown). The individual circuits of each junction andthe grid operation and feature are explained and discussed above. Itshould be obvious and clear that the propagated optical signals to andfrom the junctions are linked via the I/O ports of the CPU 87P of eachjunction A, B, C and n as programmed.

The term optoport® is a trade mark by the applicant for a given opticalaccess or to dual accesses such as the term junction, also termed fourway junction. The cut end of POF cable that is a receive and/or transmitaccess is also termed optoport.

Each end of the POF segment, access and junction is termed throughoutthe application and in the claims to be first, second, left or right,even though the actual physical state of the POF segment end, the accessand/or the junction may be shown or disclosed to be in the oppositeposition or side.

It should be noted that the terms pertaining to the cascaded opticalchain elements, referred to in the disclosure and in the claims, definedto be four way junction, comprising two or dual optical transceiverscombining transmitting elements such as LED or Laser and at least onereceiving element, such as photo transistor or photo diode, also knownas pin diode, packaged into a single combined optical enclosure with asingle optical access for linking two way optical signals via POF orother fiber optic cables.

The term segment in the disclosure and the claims refers to POF or otherfiber optic cable or optical cable for linking its one end with anaccess of a given junction and the other end with an access of anadjacent junction.

The terms first, second, left and right are terms used in the disclosureand the claims to identify the one POF segment end from the other POFend or identify the one access of a junction from the other and fromfirst junction with the second junction, or the adjacent junction linkedvia a single segment, with the first-second or the left-right can bereversed.

The first and last plug-in box of a cascading line refers to the firstplug-in box linked to at least one of the controller 560, thedistributor 570 or the command converter 580. The last plug-in box islinked via a single last POF segment of the cascading line.

FIG. 15A shows the higher speed circuit included in the optical gridOPG-H of a cascaded low voltage support plug-in boxes, similar to thelower speed optical grid OPG-L of FIG. 14C. The different is only in themake up and circuits of each of the accesses 67H of the junctions 67 tHA, B, C and n, with each junction and/or access comprises the elementsand circuits shown in FIG. 14B and disclosed above.

The difference between the grids OPG-H and OPG-L is that the costliergrid OPG-H can communicate and propagate both, the pre programmed slowerspeed commands and responses including the higher speed data exchangesbetween IoT and/or Ai devices, versus, as an example, the lower speedgrid OPG-L of FIG. 14C that is structured to communicate a lower speedcommands and responses, such as limited to, for example 9,600 bit persec. or an analogue signal or signals of up to 10 KHz and over.

FIG. 15B shows a combined grid OPGH/L using a single cascaded POF,combining the lower and higher speed signals via two lower speed JLjunctions B and C and a single high speed JH junction A.

It is important to note that in FIG. 15B the first A junction is thehigher speed junction 67H-1 that is to be linked to a controller or adistributer or a command converter of FIG. 21 communicating higher speedsignals via access 67H are for the purpose of being linked first to Hspeed accesses, because the lower speed accesses will not be able tocommunicate and propagate high speed data and/or protocols generated bythe controller 560, the distributor 570 or the command converter 580 ofFIG. 21 without errors.

This mandates field installation with care, to ensure that the POFcables will link first the cascaded high speed support boxes of thecascaded chain, as shown also in FIG. 15D, to be POF 69-2 and 69-3,linking the higher speed devices 67H-1 and 67H-2 to be first in line tolink with a controller (560, 570 and/or 580).

FIGS. 15C to 15E summarize the linking of a cascaded chains by a singleor dual or more (not shown) POF cables, with the higher speed links areshown in solid black lines to clearly illustrate the different speed,though both signals, the higher and the lower speed signals arepropagated via identical POF cables 69.

FIG. 15C shows five cascading plug-in support boxes each with singlejunction 67L for propagating the lower speed signal through the fiveplug-in boxes identified by their access number 67L-1 to 67L-5, linkedvia six shown cut POF or segments, for one more box 6 or n to be linked,such as six linked standard plug-in boxes.

It should be noted and clear that all the boxes shown and fullydiscussed and explained, including the intelligent circuit and the powersupply to operate the referenced boxes of the prior art, disclosed asintelligent support boxes, the circuit diagram of which is shown in FIG.18 of the prior art, and further include the standard plug-in supportboxes, also termed low voltage support boxes or low voltage plug-inboxes that operate on a low voltage (DC) fed via the low voltagecommunication grid, using twisted pairs cable such as CAT-5, forpowering the circuits shown in FIG. 17A, that is explained furtherbelow.

FIG. 15D shows three intelligent support boxes with lower signal speedaccesses 67L-2, 67L-3 and 67L-5 and two plug-in support boxes withhigher signal speed accesses 67H-1 and 67H-4 connected by segmented POFcut cables 69 shown in segments or cuts 69-1 to 69 n similar to thenumber of cuts shown in FIG. 15C for indicating other “n” box or boxesconnections.

As referred to above, the shown POF 69, shown in two colors white andblack, is to enhance the difference in the signal speed the POF ispropagating, but the POF itself is the same identical POF cable, eventhough the POF is shown in two colors and referred to in FIG. 15E as 69Land 69H, for the sole purpose of identifying the discussed two speedssignals propagated via the POF segments.

Another item refer to the above is the single cascaded grid forpropagating the slower and the higher speed signal. In such combinedgrid, the higher speed accesses should be linked first in the row of thecascaded chain, as the slower speed accesses may not propagate thehigher speed signal without error, while higher speed accesses willproperly propagate slower speed signals.

On the other hand it may be necessary to install physically in the roomor zone within the premises for implementing a given set-up into thewall boxes and the support boxes, that does not provide for the cascadeto be physically run in a given single direction, with the POF cable tobe linked, not in line with the single electrical grid run.

In such set-up it is perfectly proper and doable to pull three POFcables within a given stretch, shown in FIG. 15D comprising 69-2 and69-3, 69-4 and 69-5 pulled via the same single pipe or duct for areversed link with two devices or boxes containing IoT's or Ai,propagating higher speed signals.

The shown reversed connection of FIG. 15D needs no further explanation,with the exception of the shown upside-down boxes are only to simplifythe presentation how the reversed three POF cuts are pulled (with theelectric wires) together for connecting the grid as planned, and has noother reason or function, outside the simplified showing.

FIG. 15E shows the same setup as shown in FIG. 15D with dual separatedoptical grids OPGL+H, for propagating the lower and the higher speedsignals independently. Both signals are linked to the networkdistributor and can communicate via lower speed commands and protocolsfor operating the electrical appliances and receive responses, propagatereports of power consumed via lower speed protocols directly to and fromthe distributor 570.

The higher speed signal communicates directly via the high speedcascaded chain with the distributor 570 and between IoT's and Ai and/orfurther communicated via high speed optical signal or Wi-Fi router withthe higher speed devices and the internet, or via the bus-line shown inFIGS. 21-22 as bus line CAT-5 75.

It should be obviously clear that the cascaded line of FIG. 15E couldcombine the further third higher speed optical signal, for connectingIoT or Ai device to be the sixth plug-in box for directly connecting tothe distributor optical access and/or to the distributor bus line, whichcan control the communication to and from the sixth plug-in box, asfurther discussed below.

The shown optical grids summary of FIG. 15C-15E are introductions ofsimplicity in design, install and operate an electrical automation grid,wherein the electrical grid is known to be the harshest environment forsignal propagation.

The harshest environment are the noises generated by each electricalaction such as switch on switch off, via the electrical devices andappliances and by neighboring appliances, generating electrical noises,including switching power regulators, start and heavy torque motor'scurrents. The power line is further known to feed non stable AC lines inmany of world countries, and further including the strict harshestelectrical and building codes for maintaining electrical safety.

In contrast is the well known fiber optic cable that is totally immuneto electrical noise and generate zero (no) noise. The high cost of theoptical fiber, the high skill and know-how required for fiber opticsystem installations, and other physical limitations in bending radiusesand connector sizes were the reasons that kept the electrical industryfrom considering optical grid solution for residences, offices and otherbusinesses.

The POF solutions shown in FIGS. 15C-15E and as explained above areclearly novel, not only in regards to the electrical grid of the priorart, disclosed in the referenced US patents (and other countriespatents), but including solutions for installing IoTs and Ai devices,not as an add on adaptor, or a plugged gadgetry into an AC outlet, butto be fixed, part and parcel of an home automation grids and network.The obvious example is the linking of voice commands and environmentdata to operate electrical, IoT and Ai appliances and devices.

As explained above, the well known Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UHF and other RFfrequencies are sensitive to noise and interference, and the IoT's andAi devices plugged into wall boxes near power lines and communicatingvia a given Wi-Fi channel with a Wi-Fi router will be better served byconverting the Wi-Fi data and/or commands into optical signals convertedby the data and command converter 580 of FIG. 21 fed via the distributor570.

This will provide a solution to two anticipated obstructions. One is theavoiding any other communication through the optical cascading lineOPGL+H and particularly the devices 67H1 and 67H2 of FIG. 15E, and theother is the total immunity to noise, provided by communicating opticalsignal.

The third possible obstruct is the receiving by the converter 580antenna 87A (as an example) two or more Wi-Fi signals propagated withinthe residence or business unit or by other units in the neighborhoodsimultaneously.

Such interfering frequency band or channel within the premises or theneighborhood must be identified for which the controller 560 or thedistributor RF transceivers include a well known frequency scanningcircuit or a scanner for identifying all the frequencies and bandsinvolved in the RF communications and interferences.

An independently communicating IoT or Ai device that is not connected tothe cascading grids, of the present invention, cannot be stopped orblocked from transmitting via the optical and/or the bus-line grids.

The present invention other basic objective is to block all devices fromtransmitting any Wi-Fi signal (or a given Wi-Fi channel) when a singleIoT or Ai is communicating Wi-Fi data and/or commands.

In other words, only a single IoT or Ai device is able to transmit, orexchange Wi-Fi data and/or commands, at a given time via a givenchannel. If more than one IoT and/or Ai devices intend to communicate orexchange commands and/or data using Wi-Fi, such as between two IoTs orAi devices or combination of devices communicating with each other,their communication will be managed via the traffic control included inthe controller 560 or the distributor 570, and/or the command converterthat simultaneously communicates with both devices to alternatesynchronously or at a precise timing, alternately enabling thetransmission by one IoT or the other, via one or more than one givenchannels.

To summarize, the controller 560 and the distributor 570 are programmedto command the Wi-Fi via a given channel or channels, optical andbus-line traffic for preventing collision in all communicated signals.Starting with the initial delay by the propagation of signals betweenthe cascaded junctions, and second is to allow only one Wi-Ficommunication signal. It is also possible to provide for convertingreceived Wi-Fi signals into optical signals and blocking all othercascaded plug-in boxes of a given cascaded line to suspend all intendedtransmissions connected by any one of the plugged in devices within thecascaded chain.

Such blocking/denying time durations are insignificant time duration forhome control and operate devices. The fundamental position is that theblocking of all others from communicating provide a clean environmentfor Wi-Fi signals to operate in the confines of a given congested unit,of the near future, when serious IoTs and Ai devices will be availableand useful.

As referred to above, the solution for the future IoT and/or Ai devicesis the installing of blank wall boxes into and within the cascadedelectrical, low voltage including optical lines and grid of premises, isa very low or insignificant cost solution, with a vision to providefuture introductions of useful devices, as and when become available.

Regardless of the introduction simplicity, the optical grid is embeddedinto ducts and pipes attached to intelligent support boxes and tostandard plug-in boxes of smart devices in a cascaded chain.

A cascaded chain may develop a defect which raises an issue of how tofind a defect or the location of a defect, be it during installation, atthe time of commissioning or afterwards, when the grid, part of or anelement of is malfunctioning.

To this end the hand held field tools for testing, checking andverifying optical signal propagation via a single segment and up to awhole cascaded chain and beyond are introduced below.

FIGS. 16B-16D show four hand held series of optical signal testers 810,820, 830 (831+815) and 840 comprising touch screen 87S; 87SA and 87Z,push keys PK882 and PK883-1-n and POF access entries combined withmechanical locking keys PL883-1-n.

The top of the line tester 810 shows push keys PK882-1-n for mode selectand touch screen display 87S of FIG. 16B. The tester 820 shows keys tooperate a field tester including smaller display 87SA, push keys andindicators PK882-1-n, mode select keys and indicators PK883-1-n,mechanical locking key and POF entries PL883-1-n.

The shown field optical responder (and tester) 840 in FIG. 16C is aremote tool for field or workshop testing and measuring the propagatedoptical signal. The responder comprising dual POF accesses lower andhigher speed 67-L and 67-H respectively, mechanical locking keysPL883-1-2, indicators 886-1-n and push keys PK882-1-n for operating andidentifying errors and malfunctions.

A slimmed version (not shown) of the tester 810 or 820, for testing andverifying the lower speed grid only, using the touch screen 810 or theselect keys PK883-1-n, or a version for testing both the lower and thehigher speed grid models via single HL access with a smaller displayscreen (not shown).

The testers 810 or 820 design are similar to the calibration testersdisclosed and shown in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,442,972; 8,594,965;8,639,465 and 8,930,158, that can be modified or adapted to be a coverall electric grid and Home Automation tester 830 of FIG. 16D. This is bycombining the add-on test adapter 815 with the modified calibrator 831into a single combined tester 830 by attachment for testing optical gridin a workshop or in the field.

The combined-modified-calibrator-loader 830, including the installing ofadditional programs for operating the calibrator with the given adaptor815 to operate, test an perform by the touch screen 87Z to fully replacethe mode keys and select icons to enable testings and verifications tobe same as provided by the tester 810.

All the shown optical signal testers 810-830 and the optical responders840 are shown with at least two optical accesses 67-L or 67-HLreferenced as shown in FIGS. 16A, to be L, H or HL. However the testers810 and 820, the responder 840 and the add-on adaptor 815 all includecombination of dual 67H and/or dual 67L accesses that are combined intotwo JH and JL junctions.

FIGS. 17C-E show two accesses 67H or 67L or 67HL or forming a combineddual H, L, or HL two way junctions for the testing of and responding toand from dual POF adjoining grids.

The circuit diagram of the different testers and the responder shown inFIGS. 17B, C, D and E are similar to the circuit in FIG. 17A of saidstandard plug-in support boxes, also termed low voltage support boxes orlow voltage plug-in device and similar terms for receiving andtransmitting optical signal via the attached POF cut end (terminated bythe cut) of the POF or other fiber optic cables with larger core. Thecutting and terminating by a guillotine cut hand tool is disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 8,453,332 and 8,596,174.

FIG. 17B shows at least two of “n” or plurality of optical accesses 67-nforming at least one optical junction 67JL or 67 tH or both, and atleast one multi RF transceiver 87B linked to I/O ports of a CPU 87U andantenna 87A-1-n. The CPU 87U that can be an analog/digital signalprocessor is similar to the CPU 87U shown in FIG. 17A showing the verysimilar circuit diagram used for standard low voltage plug-in devicecircuit and also to the CPU of FIG. 18 showing the circuit of theintelligent support boxes of the prior art.

The noticeable differences between the CPU's are the number of I/O portsand the memory size/capacity, selected to be sufficient for the givennumber of I/O ports needed and the calculated maximum capacity and speedof the memory circuits.

Same apply to the number of the LED indicators L-1 to L-n, theindicators color, be it single or multi color, the display screen andthe touch icon programs, or the push keys PK882 or PK883 or themechanical lock keys PL883 are all selected to commensurate with achoice, as designed and programmed for measuring signal level, commandto transmit, receive, read and respond.

The possible responses to the selected actions are confirmation ofindicate or display error protocol (received or transmitted) and/orindicate via LED the steps of the tests and the protocol read result, orre-transmit the received protocol with the error as read, or verifyingalong with indicating (via the LED indicators) and/or displaying ontothe display screen the ongoing statuses, be it via a single POF segmentor segments linked via at least one operating box. The basic select,commands and responses are shown in FIG. 16A.

All the circuits of FIGS. 17A-E show DC terminal and VCC, with the powerfed to the terminals 56 are fed via the low voltage bus line grid andthe voltage reference to the testers and the responder circuit are shownto be powered by replaceable such as 4A or 3A batteries (not shown). Thebattery can be a built-in rechargeable battery (not shown) charged by awell known charger, using a cable and a well known plug to charge via acharge socket CH of FIG. 16B.

The unique novel functions, including the ability to simultaneouslycommunicate a four way two independent optical signals via the twoaccesses and the CPU 87U as disclosed and explained in details above,along with the two accesses forming a junction and the cascaded networkcircuits shown in FIGS. 14A to 15E are fully discussed above.

FIGS. 17D and 17E show two simplified circuits of the tester and theresponder devices 820 and 840 respectively as used for field testing ofthe conductivity and the optical signal propagation via AC poweredintelligent support boxes 102-112 and low voltage support boxes 902-912,from and/or up to any of the cascaded POF segment end, or from and up tothe controller POF segment 69-1 (FIGS. 15C-D), to the last POF segment“69 n” shown in FIGS. 15C-15E, and any interim segments in between.

FIG. 17D shows a simplified circuit diagram of the tester 820 and FIG.17E shows the circuit diagram of the hand held responder/tester 840.Both the tester 820 and the responder/testers 840 can be used forchecking and verifying the conductivity of a pulled POF via a conduit ora pipe between two adjoining wall boxes.

FIG. 19A shows the electrical and optical grid as pulled through theinstalled wall boxes 503 and 504 for installing intelligent supportboxes 103 and 104-2D of the prior art discussed above, or IoT's and Ai'splug-in devices powered by the AC power line via a built-in AC poweredDC power supply.

FIG. 19B shows the low voltage plug-in support boxes 902-912 of thepresent invention that are also simple to link via bus line and POF suchas DC operated IoT's and Ai's devices for controlling elements andplug-in devices of the electrical grid, including AC appliances.

FIG. 19A and 19B introduce yet another object of the present invention,summarized to be the install of an unused wall box or boxes 502-512 intowalls within the cascaded cabling path of the prior art, providing prelocations/positons for enabling the install of IoT's or Ai's devices ofthe future and be linked to the optical grid of the electrical gridand/or to the low voltage grid and network of the given residence orbusiness, at the very low cost of blank wall boxes and covers.

A major obstacle at present times to the proliferation of IoT's and Ai'sis the inability to connect and link such devices to the electricalgrids of an occupied residence and business premises. Dwellers andoccupied businesses can rarely agree to an in wall installation(requiring substantial walls renovations) and will literally never agreeto a visible wires or optical cables on walls.

The construction industry will not consider to provide an installedIoT's and Ai's devices into new buildings for two obvious reasons, thefirst is the costs and the other is warrantee for items, theconstruction industry is;

i. not aware of, or knowledgeable about, and ii. the value added by suchIoT's and Ai's devices and the “relations” difficulties between the“construction industry” and the potential buyers of mansions orbusiness. The IoT's and Ai's are not even “a talk” subject withpotential rental customers.

To solve the need for major renovations of walls and/or the electricalgrid or the low voltage grids of the future, the present cascadedoptical link, that is in fact joint with the common cascaded electricalgrids of premises, as structured throughout the last century untilpresent time.

The ability to introduce wall boxes in mid line of the combinedelectrical with a single thin (2.1 mm diameter) optical cable (POF) byproviding loose wires and POF cable (uncut) passing through and into theadded blank wall boxes (as designated) shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B is avisioned introduction. Further is the covering of the empty boxes(containing the passing uncut POF and electrical wires) with decorativecover to complete the pre-install boxes, at literal minute,insignificant cost, is novel and attractive.

The cost of the wall box and the decorative cover are minute costs, towhich the construction industry will provide, the same way they providesuch similar wall boxes and ducts for cable TV and PC or network cabling(CAT-5) that are acknowledged to be part and parcel of the grids, by theconstruction industry, and are commonly provided for all new buildings.

The grid shown in FIG. 19A includes such two wall boxes 503-3 and 503-4(for three gang support box), but can be any size of wall boxes such as503-512. It should be clear that the loose electric wires and the POFcable and the grid OPGL shown in the two wall boxes 503-3/4 (blank)boxes can be cut, i.e., terminated and linked into a single junction67JL or freely into two 67 accesses (no in-out polarity or designation).

The electric wire are inserted into the appropriate push in terminal (noin-out polarity involved), for powering a selected IoT or Ai deviceoperating on AC power by comprising a built-in power supply.

FIG. 19B shows the other low voltage (CAT-5) grid with dual POF gridsreferred to above as OPGL and OPGH, with the CAT-5 cables are cut,trimmed and inserted into the low voltage push-in terminal LVT that areprovided with color coding to prevent errors in connecting CAT-5 cables.

The two, POF-1 and POF-2 must be correctly linked to the higher speedjunction 67 tH which must be marked as such, and/or preferably colorcoded. Moreover it is preferable to provide the lower speed POF-1 inblack color (as an example) and the second POF can be any dark color,such as dark red or blue or green, or color strip along the POF cable,to ensure no cross connections between the two cascading POF cables.

Further, it is necessary to check for conductivity all the way to theoptical accesses of the distributor 570, or the controller 560 or thecommand converter 580, to which the cascaded optical grid is linked to.The common link is to the grid distributor 570.

The control devices 560, 570 or 580 are programmed to respond to anembedded test protocol including the responding to a conductivity checkcommand via the lower or higher speed junction 67JL or 67JH, propagatedvia the lower speed or the higher speed access of the hand held tester810, 820 or via the tester 830 combining the modified calibrator 831with the add-on adaptor 815, and via the responder 840.

The test to verify the proper conductivity all the way in response toone such command, can be processed only when the grid is in active stateand operating. During the installation process or prior to completingthe network and its links, the testing/verifying of each segment shouldbe processed with and via the hand held tester 810, 820 or 830 and thehand held responder-tester 840 of FIG. 16C, with the circuit diagram ofthe responder-tester 840 is shown in FIG. 17E.

FIG. 17E shows the simplified circuit for operating the tester/responder840, using identical CPU 87U with different number of I/O ports, memorysize and modified programs, with the subject of reading a received testcommand and responding to the hand held or any other of the showntesters 810-830 upon receipt of the test command, or a request for otheraction, such as to initiate a test in the reverse direction, reversingthe signal between the tester and the responder, to verify no errorsduring an opposite or return propagation of commands or data.

The responder-tester 840 is attached to one of the two accesses 67L or67H (lower or higher speed access), can also perform as aresponder-tester via a single junction 67JL or 67JH, or it can bestructured with two differing accesses 67CSL and 67CSH for testing byresponding to either higher or lower speed optical signal propagation.

When the test is carried for a single POF access, the other opening ofthe access is not exposed to any random penetrating lights via the pushto lock key PL883, that is structured to cover the opening to the POFentry, particularly to prevent random light from interfering with theverifying process.

The POF is only accessed when the PL883 key is pushed down and theaccess is exposed. At which point of time the POF end is inserted andpushed in all the way to physically engage the optical access, followedby the released of the PL883 key to lock the POF end into the engagedstate. It is very important to maintain tight engagement state to ensureconductivity and no-error communication.

The push to lock keys PL883 are provided for all the accesses of all thetester models 810, 820, 840 and to the add-on test adaptor or module 815for combining the present testing/verifying processes to the prior arttester-calibrator, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,442,792.

The circuits of the hand held tester for optical conductivity testingand verification disclosed in FIGS. 17B, C, D and E are literallyidentical with the circuit of the low voltage plug-in box or device ofFIG. 17A, with as stated above, to be different in the number ofindicators ports and I/O ports.

The further differences are shown to be in the display/touch screen 87Sthat is included in the tester 810 that differs in size and content fromthe display 87SA of the tester 820 showing a small display screen, withthe displays 87S and 87SA are not included in the circuit 17A of thestandard plug-in support box.

The circuits 810, 820 and 830 employ a display screen and operate viaLED indicators, be it single or multicolor LED, the number of which isdifferent to commensurate with the functions and the verificationsvariations, such as the signal measuring may be needed and/or providedfor high speed accesses only.

The final two elements that are shown in the circuit of FIGS. 17A, 17Band 17D-17E are the referred to above RF transceiver 87B and antenna 87Athat are shown in the tester 810 and 820 in FIG. 17B and 17D and in theresponder 840 of FIG. 17E.

To this end the use of RF signal propagation may be needed duringtesting by communicating, as referred to above, between the tester andthe responder, or with the control devices 560, 570 and 580 disclosedabove. The access of at least one said control devices is linked to thefirst segment of a given optical grid under test.

The RF transceiver and antenna can among other, supplements two waypropagation of an incomplete test or when the optical signal propagationis incomplete or blocked (for whatever reason) in one direction or theother, at which time the need to transmit RF and receive opticalresponse, or the opposite, transmit optical and receive RF response andcombinations thereof. Such supplemental function is very helpful and isthe reason to provide a similar RF transceiver 87B and antenna 87A tothe responder shown in FIG. 17E.

The usefulness of the combined testing is therefore a question of choicein design, structure and cost, and in which an RF transceiver, orseveral different transceivers and antennas may be employed in all thecircuits 17B-17E shown, in some of or in none.

Same apply to the circuit 17A that is shown to employ plurality of RFtransceiver 87B and antennas 87A, but can be structured to include rangeor combinations of RF transceivers and antennas, such as shown in FIG.17A or none, for communicating using different bands or frequencies,including the disclosed above 25-60 MHz cordless telephone band that canbe used in voice commands propagation signals to voice operated IoT's orAi devices, for operating elements of the electrical grid via theoptical link and/or recall e-commerce and e-service via voice commandinput, such as included in the controller 560.

The other element shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17D are the rotary settingselectors 4ORS-1 to 4ORS-n, that are primarily used for settingidentifications, or location, or function selection, all of which arereplaceable by setting programs for recording the setting identificationinto the memory 87M via the touch screen of the controller 560, or bythe calibrator 831 of the prior art, therefore the rotary set selectorsmay not be needed.

Same apply to the standard plug-in low voltage devices 902-912, whereinthe identification location or the function that are set via the touchscreen 561 of the controller 560 of FIGS. 21 and 22, therefore therotary setting selectors or other setting selectors may not be needed orused.

Same apply to the testers 810 and 820, with the functions selection keysPK882 that can be replaced by touch icon and program setting, and theshown keys PK882 may not be needed and not used, or partially used.

FIGS. 19A and 19B show similar perspective cascaded intelligent supportboxes and standard low voltage plug-in boxes, being mounted into wallboxes, wherein FIG. 19A shows the wall box 504 being installed with theintelligent support box 104-2D for supporting the AC outlets 211 and 212of FIG. 5B. Another connected intelligent support box 103-n is shown tobe attached to an AC operated IoT or Ai device 954-97 combining thevoice box 954 and the camera 97 of FIG. 12D assembled into three gangbox 103-n.

FIG. 19A further shows an electrically connected intelligent support box103-1 powering load 1-3 (three light bulbs). The wall box 503-1 is shownin the back ground to include the intelligent support box 103-1 linkedto the last POF segment in the cascaded chain.

FIG. 19A further comprising two non used wall boxes 503-3 and 503-4 withloose electrical wires L, N & G and a loose cascading POF 69, forenabling future introduction of plug-in IoTs and/or Ai devices, orcommunication devices, or other AC powered devices of the future HomeAutomation.

The field tester 820 is shown in FIG. 19A attached to the one open endof the cascaded POF segment, with the responder 840 is attached to thePOF segment entering the wall box 504 for checking and verifying theconductivity of the POF segment, as explained above.

The installer (not shown) pressing the verify request transmit key PK882of the tester 820 will generate a verify command request via the POFsegment to the responder 840, that will read, compare the receivedcommand with given commands stored in the memory 87M of FIG. 17E andwill respond with a confirming command or report an error when nomatching command is found.

It is similarly possible that the command received is distorted command,i.e., an error is received by the responder, at which time the programprovide for returning the error received command for further analysis bythe tester 820 shown.

It is further possible that no command is received altogether, at whichtime the program is set to wait a programmed time duration of, forexample, n milli sec. such as 0.5 sec delay to switch on an errorindicator, to indicate no conductivity (no communication).

The incidences of possible errors are displayed on the screen 87SA,followed by warning, flashing or otherwise warning by color, such asswitching a yellow color (processing) to red color (test failed)indicators.

The installer at this junction must physically check the POF segmentcable for cuts, sharp bending, over twisting or other pressure or pulldamages to the POF segment. If none is found, the installer has toreplace the POF segment and pull a replacement cable through the pipe orconduit.

The procedure and steps to be taken when a defect is found are a subjectof site management and directive how to correct. The important is thefact that a single working installer is able to check any single stretchsegment during installation, and/or check the entire cascaded chainconnected directly to a controller 560, a distributor 570 and/or acommand converter 580 when the power is applied and the standard plug-insupport boxes are powered, linked and operating.

Testing the whole cascaded line is even simpler as the only tester usedis any of the shown testers, including the responder, that is programmedto transmit and receive an inquiry command, respond to an inquirycommand two ways by verifying the returned command or indicating error.

The stated, for example, the controller 560, the distributor 570 and thecommand converter 580 of FIG. 21 and any other control device directlylinked to a cascaded POF line, or to a bus line are all programmed torespond to a test inquiry, or any inquiry as programmed to check thegiven line elements, and maintain the functionality of each cascadedline 1-8, 1-16 or 1-n by checking and verifying processes, to simplifyto the maximum, the verifying processes and further.

The verifying of each plugged-in device is simple, as the basic programrecorded in the memory 87M of the intelligent support box and/or thestandard plug-in support box, be it each individual plug-in box 102-112or 902-912 that identifies each physical plug-in position within thebox, and further programmed to record each plug-in device, be itelectrical, IoT or Ai device and the “nature of the device”.

Further, the recorded programs within the memories 87U of FIGS. 17A-Eand the memory of FIG. 18 of the prior art including the memories of thecontrol devices 560, 570 and 580 of FIGS. 21 and 22 are set to recordeach given room or zone name, such as kitchen, living or “Mike” (childroom) as set by the dweller via the controller touch display screen 561,and further use the appliance “type”, the physical control switch orconnection position within the cascaded line (1-8 or 1˜f) or the roomname (1-8 or 1˜f) to be the device address, similar to the disclosedaddress in U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722.

Further, each control device 560, 570 and/or 580 is programmed to scanat least one cascaded or individual device line or lines at given times,such as once per 24 hours, and report defect(s) found via the controllerdisplay screen 561, with the control devices recording all correctionperformed and/or modification and changes made, keeping the programs andthe address updated at all times.

The recorded type of appliance does not include the particulars of theappliance, such as model number, the name of the manufacturer, serialnumber and other identifying data.

Such data can be recorded by the dweller via the touch screen 561 or bydownloading such data with the dweller consent into a separate program,providing particulars data only by dweller consent. This is in contrastwith the power consumed data, that is reported to authorities regularly.

The above descriptions of the regular scanning of the optical and thebus-line grids, via each grid 1-n individually and its attached plug-indevice, can only be performed when the system is complete and operating.

The testers 810, 820, 830 and the responder 840 are needed for theinstalling and connecting plug-in boxes into each given cascade line andthe whole of the grids and particularly when the grid or at least onesingle cascade is malfunctioning.

Therefore, the use of the testers and the responder is needed during theinstallation of the plug-in boxes (when the installed cascaded line isnot yet powered) by carrying the only possible to check and verifysegment by segment, prior to attaching the two terminated ends of asegment to the boxes. The terms “box” or “boxes”, refer to theintelligent support box or boxes and to the low voltage or standardplug-in boxes referred to above and in the claims, but does not cover orrefer to the wall box or boxes, that are termed to be wall box or wallboxes.

The single cascaded segment may or may not be attached to any of thesupport boxes 102-112 or 902-912 and the checking and verifyingconductivity and the “no error” read and the response are proper, can beprocessed by a set of limited protocols.

The protocols that need to be stored in the tester for further testingthe propagated protocols and command accuracy, including signal levels(in milii volts) requiring signal measuring via the level set circuit860 of FIG. 14B, programs and references, including data to provideupdates and analyze defects found in a cascaded optical grid.

Such measuring and verifying programs may include further protocols,beyond the five byte disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722.

Same apply for the need to verify the tests of the higher speed data,propagated at random, and the recording of a test data into the memory87M, and/or programming the responder to record and re-retransmit thelonger data, for the tester to check and verify the accuracy of theresent data, or trigger an error alarm and/or indication when the datastream, being short or longer stream is not identical.

Yet another testing and verifying the conductivity of a cascaded chain,is to check, test and verify the junction operation, be it a single ordual optical grids, propagating lower and higher speed signal.

Further, the testing and verifying of both speeds, via the lower andhigher speed grid's signals i.e., via the two grids, or via a combinedgrid (H/L), the responder 840 and the control devices recited above tobe the controller 560, the distributor 570 and/or the command converter580 are structured by choice to respond to both signals as received viaa single access, two accesses or limited to the lower speed or thehigher speed.

The responses to dual signals by the controller introduces minor delays,measured in milli second units, thereby the responses via a singlecombined accesses does save testing time versus the more complex testingvia two grids individually.

The listed testing particulars of dual accesses versus single accessclearly show that the differences are minor, representing an issue ofchoice in structuring the testers and the cost saving by cutting thetesting time (measured in seconds or a minute or two). The choice issimple i.e., to combine the higher and the lower speed for the purposeof testing any of the intelligent support boxes (102-112) and theplug-in boxes (902-912) or separately.

Above all, to simplify the process it is necessary to provide a masterselect and a procedure select via a key or a touch icon for the ongoingchecking and verifying a single optical connectivity of each givensegment and any portion or section of each given cascaded chain, with“no-error” readings.

The below listing summarizes the basic programs needed to be includedand installed into the different testers 810 and 820 including theresponder 840 and the tester 830 with the add-on adaptor 815.

To support the different testing and verifying processes, the belowsummary listing includes sub headers A-G to identify first the “natureof the test” or the “nature of command/response” to be;

A. Single Access—Single arid—Lower speed: SASL

-   -   1. Single segment (POF only) via Responder: S-R    -   2. Multi segments via Boxes via Responder: MBR    -   3. Multi segments via Boxes via Controller: MBC

B. Single Access Single grid—Higher speed: SASH

-   -   4. Single segment (POF only) via Responder: S-R    -   5. Multi segments via Boxes via Responder: MBR    -   6. Multi segment via Boxes via Controller: MBC

C. Junction—Single Grid Lower speed: JSGL

-   -   1. Single segments (POF only) via Dual Responders: SDR    -   2. Multi segments (via boxes) via Dual Responders: MDR    -   3. Multi segments (via boxes) via Controller+Responder: MCR

D. Junction—Single Grid Higher speed—JSGH

-   -   4. Single segment (POF only) via Dual Responders: SDR    -   5. Multi segments via boxes via Dual Responders: MDR    -   6. Multi segments via boxes via Controller+Responder: MCR

E. Junction Dual Higher and Lower speed: JDHL

-   -   7. Junction Single segment (POF only) via Dual Responders: SDR    -   8. Junction Multi segments and boxes via Dual Responders: MDR    -   9. Junction Multi segments via Controller Responder(s): MCR

F. Dual Junction Dual grids—Lower and Higher speed—DJLH

7. Single Segment via Dual Responders: SSDR

8. Multi Segments via boxes via Dual Responders: MSDR

9. Multi Segments via boxes via Controller+Responder: MSCR

G. Signal Voltage Measurement (Higher speed only): VM

The “nature of the test” listed above directs to the testing andverifying modes of the many disclosed versions of the optical grids tocover and summarize the basic needs for the given test configurationsand verifications as provided, for the two speed signals.

The present objectives of the present invention is to provide simplestand fast means to check, test and verify the conductivity and thefunctionality of the optical grid, or grids and perform the task oflinking electrical switches, hybrid switches, outlets including IoTs andAi devices with the electrical grid, via the intelligent support boxesand the standard plug-in boxes.

The shown reference of each test in FIG. 16A and as listed above are thegiven alphabetic identifying references for selecting the test programs,as listed in the table above and referred to in the shown display screenof FIG. 16A.

The references displayed into the touch icons of the display screen 87S,are the references included in FIG. 16A. The actual icons however, areillustratively drawn icons (not shown) for the recall via a touch of aselected given icon for proceeding with the test program, followed by TXor RX or VM step touch icons, into the processing display area, forfurther indicating by color for example, the test being processes andthe result of:

The test is initiated by a command transmit TX-Test followed by acommand transmitted and a response (if received) R—No error or—Error orno response. When no response or “no error” is displayed, as shown inFIG. 16A display 800T.

When the test is applied via the Higher speed, it is preferable to senda command for signal measuring and the responder 840 or any of thecontrol devices 560, 570 and 580 will measure the received and amplifiedsignal using the level set value via the I/O 0.73V value shown in thedisplay 800-VM, as a gauge to the measurement and automatically increaseor decrease the signal level via the level set I/O port T2 or T5 (leftor right) of FIG. 14B.

If the value is in a range, such as (for example) 0.5-0.8V, the signalas measured will be recorded into the memory, and the response will betransmitted to display the measured level (for example) 0.63V followedby new level set at 0.8V (by self increasing the set level of T2 or T5(left or right).

The new value prompt a retransmission of TX Test, and a response RX Noerror or RX error. The adjustment of signal level is made possible bythe permanently fed two way signals for the only two signal sources onboth ends of the POF segment.

Moreover, as the first test is for single POF segment, it should besimple to check the terminations of the POF, or the actual attachment tothe responder and to the tester itself.

The handling of an identified error mandates a directive manual “how toprocess a discovered error” and it is not the object of the presentinvention, that is an introduction of a novel tester or testers thatprocess the testing and verification (of the transmitted commands ordata), in a simplest possible process by electrical grid installers asexplained above.

Similar processes are provided for all other test, via single or dualaccesses or junction, be it the single grid or dual grids, wherein thetest has repeated steps for each TX transmission and RX receiving, andthe means to measure the signal level that is recommended, even if theresponse shows No error.

The items needed to be checked in regards to signal level, are, i. thelength of the POF segment, ii. the termination (the cut of the POF end)and the attachment of the cut (terminated) end, of each cut end intoeach access in the cascade. A tight attachment in needed to reducesignal loss.

Such checking and verifying during the install and attach the POFsegments, is the most effective process to ensure high reliabilitycascaded grids, while each test can be completed in few seconds orminutes, such as 4-5 min, at most to attach two terminated end to thetester and the responder accesses and touch the icon(s) of the testerand wait a second for a response.

FIGS. 20A-20D illustrate the different set-up and process of the testand verification wherein, FIG. 20A shows tow tests carried one via thecombined tester 830 linked for testing two POF segments, the one segmentis passing through a blank wall boxes 504-3 and 104-2 shown to includefour plug-in light switches and exit from the blank wall box 504-1linked to the responder 840.

The other test of FIG. 20A is processed via single POF segment drawnfrom the wall box 504-1 to a wall box 503-1 by a tester 820 and aresponder 840, for checking the conductivity of the POF segment drawnthrough the pipe, between the two wall boxes, i.e., 504-1 and 503-1.

FIG. 20B illustrates the testing and verifying the conductivity of theentire optical grids between the tester 820 and the distributor 570linked via dual blank wall boxes 503-2 and 504-3 and three installedintelligent support boxes (104, 104-2 and 103-2) shown connected to theAC power grid via the power lines L and N and the ground line G in theelectrical cabinet 571. The first optical segment is linking the singleoptical grid of POF cables 69 to a distributor 570 included in thecommunication cabinet 572. The intelligent support box 503-1 is shown toinclude an hybrid switch and AC powered camera 98.

All the four grids of FIGS. 20A-20D show dual zones or rooms 1 and 2powered by the electric grid L, N and G with the optical grid 69 mixedand mingled with the electrical grid stretching from the combinedcabinets 571+572 to the exit pipe 501 from a wall box 503-2. Thedifferences between the four shown systems are the shown testers 810,820 and 830 and the tests being carried by the testers in combinationwith the responders 840 and/or the distributor 570.

FIG. 20C shows a similar test via the tester 810 to the shown test inFIG. 20B with the introduction of the responder 840 replacing theintelligent support box 103-2 to link the grid with the distributor 570,wherein the responder 840 perform triple functions/test, which are:

i. responding to a received test transmission from the tester 810, andii. simultaneously propagates the test command to the distributor andreceive the response from the distributor (verifying or not), and iii.re-propagate the received response (between the distributor and theresponder), and iv. with the responder, re-propagate the distributorresponse to the tester 810. Thereby verify the 810 to the responderlink, the responder to the distributor link and the link between thedistributor and the tester 810 via the responder 840.

FIG. 20D shows the same testing set-up between the tester 810 and theresponder 840 via dual optical grids, the lower and the higher speedindividually, wherein the testing procedure is duplicated (selfgenerating all steps) i.e., starting with TX transmission of testcommand of the lower speed via the lower speed grid and receiving theresponse from the responder, proceeding and transmitting the testcommand of the higher speed, via the higher speed grid and receiving theresponder response and when both result in no error, the test iscomplete.

If the test fails (error or no response) the same procedure as disclosedabove for error, etc., is carried out.

The test shown in FIG. 20D does not show or give an answer to the nottested first segment of the two grids, from the box 503-1 to thedistributor, as the responder 840 shown in FIG. 16C, is provided withonly one L access and one H access. Such responder cannot link dualjunctions of both L and H optical speed signals.

However, the testing of first cascaded segment of the L and H junctionsconnected to the responder 840 or the tester 810 can be tested andverified by a further test between the responder 840 and thedistributor.

Alternatively, the use of a responder with dual junction L and H, if thechoice to use a costlier responder 840. Such four accesses responderwill enable simple test of the dual grids of FIG. 20D, similar to thesingle grid test of FIG. 20C.

Another option is to connect the tester 820 instead of the lower costresponder 840 between the POF segments of the wall box 503-1, andconnect the responder 840 to the segments of the wall box 503-2 toreplace the tester 810.

As the optical conductivity test of the present invention objectives arelimited to testing of conductivity of optical cable having a larger coresuch as POF cable, it is obviously clear that the well known multi modesilica (glass) fiber with thicker cores that can be tested forconductivity by the present inventive tester and that the presentinvention, cover other optical fiber cables, such as disclosed in themany prior art inventions and recited patents that cover other currentlyavailable fiber optic cable or to be introduced in the future to becovered by the claims of present invention.

Moreover, no field test for verifying the conductivity of bare corefiber end, is known to exist or serve a purpose. All testing made in thefield of communications, be it in building or surround or open spaces,or under water all are based on testing fiber optic cables fit with plugassembly, as it is literally impossible to test the end cut of a fiberoptic cable in the field, such as during installation in a building oroutdoors, without fitting a connector first, including the lappingprocess, that is a mandatory process for ensuring no-error by silica(glass) fiber.

Any change in the wall boxes orientation such as vertical/horizontal, orthe electrical wiring devices such as hybrid switches or AC outlets hasno bearings on testing of the conductivity and the opticalcommunications between the intelligent support boxes or via the blankwall boxes, prepared for future introduction of standard plug-in boxessuch as into the wall boxes 504-3 and 503-2. The box 503-1 is shown tocontain intelligent support box such as 103 to operate IoT's or Aidevice shown as AC powered operating camera 98 with face recognition(for example) disclosed and explained above.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the conceptual connection and wiring diagrams ofthe home automation or the combined smart home grid of the presentinvention, combining the many known communication signals, includingelectrical signal, wireless signals, optical signal and voice signal tojointly operate IoT's, Ai's, electrical wiring devices and appliances,including but not limited to each and every element or appliance poweredvia AC outlets that are manually controlled, self controlled andcentrally controlled via the shown grids, connected to at least onecontroller 560, via a distributor 570 direct or via a command converter580 that is also known as an interface.

FIG. 21 shows the electrical wiring grid connected to the powerterminals L (live AC), N (Neutral AC) and ground terminal G, in cascadedchains via wall boxes, such as 503-512 and intelligent support boxes102-112 disclosed above to electrical wiring devices such as SPST hybridor manual switch S-3 and/or outlets such as 211 disclosed above.

The well shown electrical cascading grid combining L—live AC, N—neutralAC and G—ground wire connections start at the electrical cabinet 571with the electrical wires are shown in FIGS. 19A, 20A-D, 21 and 22 to bemixed and mingled with an optical cable POF, that is cascaded via twoway in-out junctions of FIGS. 14C, 15A and 15B.

FIG. 21 shows four lower speed OPGL cascaded lines of FIG. 14C, and FIG.22 shows three dual cascaded lines OPGL+H of FIG. 15E and one OPGH/Lline of FIG. 15B.

The four shown cascaded lines forming the optical grid are linked viathe distributor 570 via four POF cables 69 and into POF accesses 1-n ofthe distributor 570 as shown in FIG. 21.

Each of three POF cascaded line comprising the electric wires L, N & Gand the POF cable 69 are cascaded through at least one blank wall box503 with the POF segment and the electrical wires are shown to be loosewithin the wall boxes, be it 503, 504 or 506 shown in FIG. 21.

The fourth optical grid connects the low voltage bus-line CAT-5 75 toinclude two IoTs (touch pad) devices 911A and 913A and a single Aidevice to include voice box 958A for operating electrical devices andappliances by voice.

The wall box reference numeral 503 or 512 refers to the maximum capacityof gangs, such as 504 can accommodate intelligent support box orstandard plug-in support box 104 or 904 respectively. Wall box 912, forexample, is a wall box with a capacity for accommodating twelve gangplug-in boxes be it 112 or 912.

Wall boxes can be structured into a long stretch, for vertical orhorizontal mounting, or can be structured to accommodate, for example,twenty four gang wall boxes, accommodating three intelligent supportboxes, such as 108 or three standard plug-in boxes 908 mounted side byside, or accommodating dual 112 or 912 plug-in boxes, or four 106 or 906plug-in boxes mounted side by side.

The other grids shown in FIG. 21 are three cascaded low voltage buslines propagating electrical signals, such as the known low voltagedifferential electrical signals via CAT-5 cable 75, but can similarlypropagate analog voice signals, such as voice signal of telephone linesor voice generated by a plug-in voice unit 954A of FIG. 12D, or theshown combination Ai of voice speaker device 958A.

The grid combining the shown cascaded lines can further communicate viaRF signal in given bands, frequencies and modulations, be it Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, UHF or cordless telephone communicated voice signals via theantenna 87A of the shown controllers, such as the monitor/controller560, the distributor 570, the command converter 580, including varietyof standard plug-in devices, such as the shown Ai device 952, the voicespeaker combination 958 and the low voltage touch pads 951A, includingthe AC powered touch pad 951, all communicate via at least one RFantenna 87A shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

The different communication signals propagated inside home, or high riseresidence, be it small or larger apartment, the incidence of collisionbetween “communicating signals” generated by differing devices,including such as voice communicated by two or more dwellers of the samefamily, with two or more different voice boxes simultaneously, ends upwith dual or more colliding converted voice signals, be it electrical,RF or optical command signals, that are bound to collide, following therule that if they can collide—they will collide.

Considering the on-going need for signal propagation within the confinesof a given residence, it should be absolutely clear that the incidencesof signals propagation pertaining to the living, within a givenconfines, such as an apartment of higher rise, or lower rise, or singlehome are non continuous, random and conceptually short.

Such incidental or occasional signal propagation will be substantiallyupgraded to a literal perfection, by having a central processing unitCPU, or pluralities of CPUs included in a unit or units termedcontroller 560, or command converter 580, or distributor 570 or videointerphone, or shopping terminal or set-top box, or a shopping box or atelevision, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,117,076, to control thecommunication traffic throughout, be it a residence of a building, orhome, referred to above, or offices, shops and other business.

Such traffic control can be provided by controlling each cascadedsegment via the optical grid discussed above and via each of the buslines individually that can also be implemented to control the signaltraffic at low cost as explained below.

The U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722 discloses five byte code structured command,as referred to above, wherein the header identifies the signal to be busline (low voltage), IR (in open air), RF and optical (via POF). The subheader is disclosed to be identifying the nature of command andacknowledge status. The third byte is the link code from source to zoneand zone to source.

The fourth byte, termed ID-CODE lists given operate commands andresponses to and from a given appliance in a given location i.e., roomor zone of the premises and the last (fifth byte) is the trailer(checksum).

The fourth byte, disclosed in the 722′ patent lists one byte commandsand responses 0x01 to 0xff that are organized per particulars of thetype of appliance, and the power switch or the outlet locations. As thetype and the location of the appliance and its power source (switch oroutlet) are all recorded in the memories of the plug-in box 102-112, thecontroller 560, the distributor 570 and the command converter 580, anyof the above particulars need not be introduced in the header, subheader, or into the link code of a command or a response directed to andfrom the plug-in box, be it a switch, an outlet, Ai or IoT.

Therefore the operating of any given appliance, be it light in any ofthe rooms or zones, HVAC, or curtain, or television receiver, need notbe addressed in the command or response propagated within any of thecascaded chain.

This makes the three byte address propagated within the cascaded chainto the box number 2-6 and the position number 1-n within the box, withthe left side gang being the first or number one plug-in device. Suchshort address simplifies and shorten the communication within eachcascaded chain, yet provide identification to the appliance, theappliance location and the plug-in device (the power source) position,enabling to address by the forth byte of the referenced patent 722′ tocover the operation of all conceivable appliances within the premises.

The same applies to both commands, propagated within the optical grid orthe low voltage bus line signal through a cascaded chain, need not usethe header nor the sub header, as it needs not identify the source andthe propagated signal.

The cascaded grid is fixedly connected to a controller (source) and itcommunicates optical or electrical (low voltage) signal throughout thecascaded lines and to an appliance or IoT or Ai device linked to asignal source within the cascaded chain.

The object of the signal propagation is to transfer an operation commandfor an action by a given appliance, linked to and operated via, anexample, a given hybrid switch to switch light on, or via a switchableoutlet, connected to an oven via the cascaded chain or within thecascaded chain. This is followed by reporting the appliance statusand/or reporting the power consumed by the switchable given outlet of agiven support box within the cascaded chain to the distributor 570.

The five byte command structure are needed for communicating betweenindividual appliances, including hand held remote controls, IR forexample, from one room to another, with no line of sight, wherein thecommand must identify the signal being propagated to the distributor.

Addressing a plug-in device and/or appliance powered via a plug-inoutlet of a given cascaded chain, linked via POF, can only be opticalsignal. Same applies to an IoT device connected in a twisted pair busline, inside wall pipes or other conduits can only be low voltageelectrical signal. Cascaded lines can only be addressed by apre-programmed addresses, allotted to each cascaded line, and itsplug-in device position within the standard plug-in box, be it opticalsignal via POF or electrical signal via twisted pair.

The cascade starts via the first connected box of the cascaded chain,connected to a controller 560, 570 or 580 is the only option available.Same applies to an intelligent or standard plug-in support boxindividually connected to a controller direct or via a distributor orvia a command converter with the two ways signals cannot be other thanelectrical or optical, this includes the propagation of voice signal beit optical or via a twisted pair.

All the other cascaded boxes operate two ways in two directions, termedabove to be left and right, are therefore locked into the grid signal beit optical, bus line or voice.

The shown distributor 570 is provided with eight or “n” opticalaccesses, as an example, and the four or “n” bus line accesses, as anexample. The above makes it obvious that all outgoing commands andincoming responses, statuses and power consumption reports are addressedto and from a given identified cascaded line via the first cascadingbox.

The well known common wiring devices, such as mechanical switches and ACoutlet installed in a 120-150 m² (≅1,120˜1,400 feet²) unit will be (highaverage) between 50-55 individual devices.

Premises unit of over 220 m² (≅over 2,000 feet²) will be installed with(high average) of 60-75 devices.

Considering the above, for establishing the essential limit to givencodes for identifying each given device in a single premises (apartment,home, office or other business), connected via 16 cascaded chains ofboxes, with each line links a maximum of six cascaded boxes, will be atotal of 96 boxes.

Linking 96 combined plug-in boxes with each intelligent or plug-insupport box containing two plug-in devices only (such as 103 and 903),the number of plug-in devices will be 192, which is far more than neededfor over 500 m² unit, leaving more than large number of unused (blank)plug-in positions, or linking far less cascaded lines, such as a totalof 6˜7 lines, each with 4-5 cascaded plug-in support box.

Considering that each linked plug-in device code is stored in thecontrol 500, 570 and 580 memory, self set by the dweller with limiteddetails of the attached plug-in device. The limited details arepertaining to (as an example) the electrical load, attached (such aslight, the light location, the switch location and the room or zone name(that can be recalled by voice) or the appliance that is fixedlyconnected to plug-in AC outlet.

There is also a need to identify the plurality of commonly unused ACoutlets to be a “random” outlet for randomly connected appliance. Thiscan only be entered by the user (the dweller).

It should be clear that a command between any of the boxes within thecascaded chain need not be addressed beyond single assigned alphanumeric character code, such as 0x01-0x06˜0xf1-0xf6 for a total of themaximum 96 boxes code addresses. Such address can be programmed into thethird byte (the link code) disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,722,replacing the codes for each individual device appliance.

This enables to reduce the propagated command and responses between thecascaded boxes to three byte only, substantially improving andsimplifying the cascaded traffic.

The propagation of the three byte commands, i.e., the modified linkcode, the appliance operation and command, and the trailer checksum canbe propagated in two versions. The first mandates the loading ofappliance particulars and plug-in position particulars into the memoryof the intelligent support box or the standard plug-in support box. Suchinstalling or loading data in each support box individually, that is notknown or available at the time of installation is complex and presents aserious issue.

Once the apartment, home or business is occupied, a dweller can loadsuch data via the controller display screen, but the process is complex,mandating change in each of the plurality of boxes, requiring aknowledgeable professional.

To simplify the loading of data pertaining to each plug-in devicefunction, location, within the box and the room zone, as named by thedweller, the appliance and the appliance function key and its remotecontrol signals and commands, including any changes made to the systemand the appliances locations cannot be handled by a dweller.

Such flexibility is not possible with data recorded into each box memorypertaining to each plug-in device. Such simplicity, allowing the dwellerto set, modify or update the system via the controller 560 touch screenis provided by programing the intelligent support boxes and the lowvoltage plug-in support boxes, with active cascading address program.

The active cascaded address provide for the single byte link codes0x01-0x06˜0xf1-0xf6 addressed to the first connected plug-in box tobecome self updating numeral, wherein the initial link code (duringsetup) is amended by the first plug-in box to propagate ascending orderaddress numeral 0x02˜0xf2, transmitted to the second box of the cascadedchain.

The second box will automatically record its position to numeral 0x02and will regenerate the next ascended order address numeral 0x03, if nobox is connected or responding within a given time set duration, thecascade will be recorded by the distributor 570 and the controller 560or including a command converter 580 to be a cascade chain of two boxesonly.

Same apply to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth boxes of a givencascaded line. The CPU 87U of FIG. 17A is programmed to block the sixthcascaded box or any other last box of a given cascaded chain from anyfurther communication via the sixth or last box, such as with its leftaccess shown in FIGS. 14C, 15A, 15B and 15C-E.

In the process of setting up the network addressing and recording,and/or during re-setting or amending the grids(s), such as introducingnew IoT's or Ai or adding new AC plug-in devices to the blank wallboxes, referred to above.

The responses from the last cascaded box is programmed to decrease orgenerate descending numeral order from the last numerical by one, suchthat the last box 6 will generate address 0x05˜0xf5 and the followingbox will propagate a further descended order address 0x04˜0xf4 with thesecond box in the cascade propagate the address 0x01˜0xf1 to the firstconnected box, responding to the controller (560, 570, 580) with theoriginal address of five bytes, detailing the set-up of the six boxes orany other number, or a single box only if no second box is connected (orresponding).

Each of the CPU 57U of a given upgraded intelligent support box 102-112or standard plug-in support box 902-912 is recorded with particulars ofthe plug-in structure for each given plug-in devices to be attached,such as AC outlet (2 gang) with three terminals L, N and G (ground) forthree pin plug, or three terminals N, L1 and L2 for dual two pin plugswith no ground, AC hybrid switches SPST with L, load and coil feedterminals, or SPDT with L and dual T1 and T2 traveler terminals and coilfeed terminal, or no coil feed terminal for manual SPDT switch.

Same applies to DPST and DPDT hybrid and manual switch, and any of theIoTs and Ai plug-in position, be it single gang, dual gang, or n gangs,all are structured for including the terminals (or no terminals) foreach device. The CPU recording of the plug-in device is programmed to bewithin given pattern, maintaining the needed standard for all thereferred above plug-in devices, gang size, the terminals, the positionsof each device—read from left to right, as an example, to be first,second˜n position—the last, which is communicated with the controller todisplay the plug-in box with each individual plug-in device size andposition within the displayed box.

Such standard specific structures are recorded in the memory 87M of theCPU 87U of each standard plug-in box and in the memory of the prior artof FIG. 18 of each intelligent support box.

The only remaining items to set up the grid is by the user, to enter theroom number or name for each given box, the light number or name foreach switch, or for each operated curtain, or blind or window shutter,or water boiler and identify each permanently connected appliance, suchas washing machine, dryer, dish washer, garbage grinder, refrigerator,and stand alone freezer, oven, micro wave oven, or cooking range andsimilar.

The other randomly used AC outlets, plugged into by a randomly usedappliance (hand held hair dryer as an example) can be updated randomlyvia the controller touch screen 561 or the appliance plug can be fittedwith RFID tag 39T shown in FIG. 4C and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,930,158 or via optical accesses 38-OP shown in FIG. 4B.

The shown optoports 38-OP are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,148,921 and8,344,668 and in the other disclosed above US patents. The AC power cordof a given appliance comprises an active optical access or a terminatedPOF cable linked to optical access included in the appliance.

The optical linking thereby, extended from the AC plug aligned with theAC outlet optoport, disclosed to be accessible via the sensor entry SEshown in FIGS. 2C and 10C with the sensor structure 38-OP (optical) or39 (RFID) is shown in FIG. 4A.

The RFID tag 39T attached to AC plug is identifying the type of theappliance being powered via a given outlet. The optical access 38-OP isfurther providing full two way communications between the pluggedappliance, the box and the controller, for operating, reporting powerconsumed and any other ongoing communication of data with a data sourcevia the AC outlet.

The optical accesses can be used for ordering e-commerce and/ore-services via the controller and/or given appliances incorporating suchcapabilities, as an example is the known refrigerators or washingmachines, or with future IoTs or Ai plug-in devices.

The optical accesses and RFID antenna are shown to be extended via thebox to be positioned against the AC plug surface to be in literal touchin a close proximity.

Same is not needed for the IoTs or Ai devices of the future, moreoverthe proximity of the two surfaces, the plug-in device's bottom or rearsurface and the box (102-112 or 902-912) top inner surface are inliteral physical contact, enabling peer to peer direct RFID two-way,read-wright communication and the obvious two way optical communicationaccesses shown in FIG. 12A structure 80 with a bottom or rear access 67or 68, structure 82 shown with n-accesses 67-n, 84C structure is shownwith two optical accesses 67 or 68 at its bottom, and structure 84T showa single optical access 67 or 68.

FIG. 12B further shows dual optical accesses 68 and cable access CA forlinking to Ai camera with face recognition 98B. FIG. 12C shows dualoptical accesses of a box 104-2-OP for two plug-in devices, AC outletwith optical access OP-38 via a rear access SE shown in FIG. 2B for theextended optical access 68SS of the box 104-2-OP of FIG. 12C, includingan optical access 68 via the internal cover surface for the plug-in ACpowered camera 98A.

FIG. 12D shows the voice plug-in device 954A with plurality of lowvoltage bus-line terminals 55 and power terminals 56 and a rear opticalaccess (not shown) for providing electrical signal, DC power and opticalaccesses for communicating analog or digital optical signals with thevoice box via the terminals 65 and 66 respectively, and via the optoport68 of the box 906-M, to prevent “hum” from reaching and distorting thereceived voice signal. “Hum” is explained further below.

For RF propagation (in open air) it is not possible to apply the shortensimplified address referred to above. However IoT or Ai devicesinstalled by a standard plug-in device into a given cascaded plug-in boxof a given cascaded line, be it 102-112 or 902-912, enables to accessthe IoT or Ai devices for communicating commands, data or voice viaoptical or electrical or voice (analog or digital) signal, via theshorten address.

The commands, be it optical or electrical can well include group ofcommands to control the Wi-Fi or any other RF communication, includingthe “intend to transmit” (RF) command, or request for transmitpermission, and timing response with the band, channel, and otherparticulars as recorded in the controller memory.

The recording of RF particulars can be self processed at the time ofinstalling an IoT or Ai device, by feeding the RF particulars data viathe applicable grid, be it originally installed or at the time of addingIoT or Ai device to the system, and into a standard plug-in boxinstalled into a blank wall boxes 503, 504 or 506 shown in FIGS. 19A-B,21 and 22 or larger size wall box. It can also be a blank space withinan installed and connected intelligent or low voltage plug-in supportbox.

This makes it obvious that signal traffic control inside the confinedspace of a residence or office or other businesses, can be well operatedvia the cascaded intelligent support boxes and the standard plug-insupport boxes, or as termed via low voltage plug-in support boxes, canprovide traffic control to all signals, including RF signals, be itWi-Fi, Bluetooth, UHF or cordless telephone frequencies.

Considering that a short delay in the random control and communicationsbetween an element of the given apartment, home or business, caused bygenerating the “ready or intent to transmit” pulse or code, or requestpermission to transmit and a confirming or denying response causing ashort delay is perfecting the infrastructure network.

Be it via the optical or electrical cascaded signals that blocks theadjacent cascaded plug-in boxes, or any RF capable plug-in box of agiven cascaded line, will not affect, on the contrary will upgrade theon-going control and/or operate electrical devices or appliances by theminute delay (part of a second) the request may cause.

Managing the Wi-Fi or other RF signals transmission propagations withina given channel of a given band, in a crowded environment may reduce theincidences of collisions, that damages, as currently experienced, by theuse of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or other RF signals for home automationsystems, but cannot solve the fundamental issues and problems involved.

Moreover, as disclosed above and in FIGS. 19A-22, the IoTs and the Aidevices are physically introduced into support boxes 102-112 or 902 to912 or larger, each IoT or Ai device is confined to a given grid, be itthe optical or the bus line grid connected to the control device 560,570 or 580, that can time, synchronize and coordinate its wirelesssignal with no collisions.

Augmenting the Wi-Fi communication in crowded space by blocking therandom transmission for a duration of milli seconds units, cannot causeany difficulties with the operation of electrical appliances, IoTs or Aidevices. After all the time it takes for a relay or a mechanical switch(or a triac IC that its delay time is 16.6 or 20 milli sec—zero cross)to operate, as stated above, is similar or longer than the delay timeneeded to enable peer to peer uninterrupted RF communication, discussedfurther below.

The voice plug-in devices 954, 954-97, 954A, 958 and 958A shown in FIGS.12D, 13C, 19A, 19B, 21 and 22 can communicate via optical signal, be itanalog audio signal or coded stereo signals via POF grid OPGL or OPGH,or via bus line grid, or via a single twist pair including power feed tothe voice circuit of the plug-in devices as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,131,386 and via RF using the 900 MHz band or the 43-50 MHz and/orother frequency bands and channels of the cordless telephone, asallocated by the authorities.

The advantage of propagating short voice commands for operatingappliances, within the apartment confinement, via the optical grid to acontrol circuit, such as 560, 570 or 580 that includes circuits toidentify and convert the voice commands into given codes, be it fore-shopping, or for e-services is advantageous, as it can transform thevoice control to a major base for daily activities, include thecommunication with bed ridden, or the elderly for medical help asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,131,386.

Another clear advantage in propagating analog voice signals via eachcascaded line of the optical grid is the absolute isolation from noiseand the 50-60 Hz interference, known as “hum”, that distorts voicesignal propagated via copper wires in a vicinity of power lines.Particularly when the voice over copper lines is non “floating” i.e.,having ground or power line reference, mandating separate conduits andshielding for voice copper lines, far from the electrical grid, which isnot simple in a confined size of an apartment, or home, or office orother businesses.

The optical voice signal of the present invention enables the controlline of electric elements within the electrical grid, via theintelligent support boxes 102-112 of the prior art directly, or routedvia the control devices 560, 570 or 580 to control and operate any ofthe electric powered appliances and devices of given residences andbusinesses.

Further, voice control can be directly fed to an IoT or Ai device viathe low voltage grid, be it via voice identification and commandrecognition, within the IoT or Ai device, or transforming the recognizedcommand via the voice plug-in device 954, 954-97, 958, 958A or otheroperated voice devices linked to the system via RF antenna. With thepropagation of signals are timed via the optical grid (intent totransmit) by denying all other elements of the combined grids, operatingon same RF channel/frequency from transmitting RF signal for theduration of the RF transmitted voice command.

To summarize, the voice signal can be distributed in its analog originalform, free from hum and noise, via the POF optical grid or grids. Thevoice can also be propagated via floating single twisted pair and/or viathe bus line in an encoded signal and/or via cordless telephone circuitsin variety of authorize frequency channels and bands and/or operate theintelligent or smart home devices throughout the residence, home orbusiness via a controller such as 560, 570 or 580.

The voice control circuits inside the controllers enable to positivelyidentify the voice of dwellers and friends, and further programmed toidentify “strangers” when no family and/or friends are in the premises.

An Ai plug-in voice box 954 can allow friendly visitor to enter thebuilding and/or generate alarm when a non recognized person by voice 954or image by a camera 98 or 98A is entering the building without beingallowed to enter, verified at time or timing when no dweller actuatedthe door lock to allow entry to a “stranger”.

Further, the system may allow to identify each person (and his picture)of the family members with permission to command an order for e-shoppingand/or services and limit the amount or the product or the services agiven person of the family can order. The system can generate alert whena “stranger” is ordering by voice, or via a touch screen of thecontroller (the shopping terminal) via a camera 97 shown in the control560 of FIGS. 21 and 22.

Other devices of security items are motion detection by the camerasdisclosed above and by the well known motion detectors, that are notshown, but can be installed into the blank wall boxes that can be usedtogether with the cameras and voice devices at time when movement isdetected, but no family member or known guest is identified.

Such programs to enhance security by IoTs or Ai devices, that canupgrade substantially the security in residences or offices orbusinesses, can be installed into the blank boxes 503 or 504 or 506 andother gang sizes shown and not shown in FIGS. 19A-22.

The controller, monitor and display 560, the distributor 570 and thecommand converter 580 of FIG. 21 are shown to include an antenna 87A,but can include several antennas and RF transceivers for communicatingWi-Fi, Bluetooth, UHF bands, and/or cordless telephone frequencies asauthorized by the authority.

The shown distributor comprises and operates via a well known centralprocessing circuit (not shown) that is well known to be a CPU, similarto the CPU 87U of FIG. 17A with plurality of I/O ports includingassigned n I/O ports and circuit 575 for voice recognition andinterfacing the voice commands for integrating the different individualcascaded lines, be it the optical grids, the bus lines and the RF signalcommunications into a combined smart home grid.

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,514,490; 9,679,326; 9,684,921;9,684,922; 9,684,923; 9,741,068 and other patents disclosed above, thecontroller 560 is further combining the circuits and programs of ashopping terminal disclosed in the above six and other US patents, asupdated to further processes the e-shopping by voice commands propagatedvia a standard plug-in voice device such as 954 of FIG. 12D or 958 ofFIG. 13C or direct via the shown microphone 94, included in the shoppingterminal i.e., the controller 560 of FIGS. 21 and 22.

Another fundamental element for shopping recognition or identificationis the use of face recognition program installed into a camera such asthe shown camera 98B of FIG. 12B, or 98 of FIG. 12C, or 98A of FIG. 12Dor combined with the plug-in voice device 954-97 of FIGS. 19A and 22.

The camera 98A is also shown embedded in the monitor-controller, termedalso shopping terminal. The shopping terminal is also disclosed in theabove listed six U.S. Pat. Nos. 409′-068′ and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,461,012;7,945,032 and 7,973,647, disclosing the shopping terminal to be a touchscreen monitor of a video interphone system.

Video interphone is commonly installed in high-rise and houses for entrycontrol via an entry panel also known as door unit, well known toenclose a camera for identifying visitors, enabling a dweller toremotely open the building or the house entrance/door.

FIG. 22 introduces the dual optical grids OPGL+H for linking the priorart intelligent support boxes 102-112 and the higher speed standardplug-in devices, such a camera and voice device 954-97 including blankwall boxes 503, 504 and 506 or other sizes for future adding standardplug-in devices, to be AC powered and optically linked by either thelower or the higher speed grids, both are connected to the distributor570.

The other grid shown in FIG. 21 is the bus-line linked via CAT-5 (75)cable as shown between the distributor and low voltage plug-in devices957A and 952A Ai device disclosed above and a combination of voice andtouch pad 958A, powered by low voltage fed by the CAT-5 with DC power,supplied by the DC power supply 571 included in the communicationcabinet 572. The power supply 571 powers the distributor circuitsincluding the command converter 580 of FIG. 21.

The low voltage grid cascaded via CAT-5, can be replaced by a singletwisted pair for communicating two way signals and power feed via singletwisted pair as disclosed in the referenced patents above. Other itemsof importance are the communication signals for propagating commandprotocols and data between the IoTs and Ai devices 957A, 951A, 952A,953A and 958A and the distributor 570 are via at least one twist pair ofCAT-5 cable 75, yet the voice device 958A is further shown to be linkedvia POF cable 69 disclosed as optical grid OPGL in FIG. 21 and OPGH inFIG. 22.

The introduction of optical grid to mix and mingle with the low voltagebus-line provides uniformity throughout the premises and in theparticulars of voice signal, the optical grid provides for propagatinganalog voice signals with no electrical noise or the 50/60 Hz humaffecting severely the quality of the voice signal in copper lines.

It is well known that hum noise makes it difficult to recognize thepropagated voice signal, and depending on the hum levels (due toadjacent AC power lines), proper voice recognition may be impossible.

The issue of the propagated voice signal through is an issue or issuesof choice, yet the possible errors in recognition and/or in the readinga voice command, be it analog voice or digitally converted electricalsignal, the preferred communication is the use of optical grid,particularly as it provides clear advantages at low cost.

As the distributor 570 of FIGS. 21 and 22 is distributing two waysignals via all its connected signals, by self conversion and/orinterfacing circuits, accordingly the converter 580 may not be neededand is not used in the communication box 572, or may be needed forspecific conversions of given signals.

The above disclosure and explanation make it ample clear that thepresent invention provide a simple, viable, low cost solutions to theabsolute need to structure a physical grid or grids to link all the IoTsand Ai devices currently existing, and/or being developed to beintroduced into future devices with intelligence to create conveniences,efficiencies to the dweller of residences, homes, offices and otherbusiness.

It should be further clear that the wrong anticipation to solve theovercrowding of Wi-Fi or other RF signal in the interiors of premisesdid not succeed, despite the almost 20 years of research anddevelopment, particularly at present time when IoTs and Ai devices arebeing introduced into the market.

The need to have a grid that can be upgraded, added to and modified ifnecessary or desired. Such add on must be designed for introductionwithout major renovations to walls and the electrical wiring, such asprovided by the present invention, enabling to go forward.

The present invention overcome the eluding hope that Wi-Fi is thesolution to Smart Home, Home Automation, smart city and the solution topower consumption reporting that never existed, outside some plug-insensor/adaptors, that can never be a base for “smart electrical grid”,such as providing full control and power consumed reporting by each andevery electrical device and appliance, disclosed in the presentapplication.

The upgrading, adding, replacing or modifying installed plug-in devicesstated to be “standard”, shown and disclosed with approximate sizes,does not intend to be a fixed “non bending” size or sizes, or be apatentable sized item.

The reference to “standard sizes, shape or design” do not suggest to bethe exact or identical structure, shape or size of the shown structuresof the wall boxes, nor the shown prior art intelligent support boxes, orthe present shown modified intelligent support boxes and wiring devices.

The standard size and shape should apply to any sized support box thatfits a plug-in device and vice-versa.

Any design that includes plug-in device for plug-in into a support boxis subject to modifications with times, and any support box forelectrical wiring devices such as power outlets, or hybrid powerswitches may need to be modified to comply with electrical and buildingcodes and rules, that differs between countries and regions.

The term “standard” as recited throughout the application and the claimsis to be a standard to fit plug-in wiring devices, built to beplugged-in by a simple plug-in action into a mounted support box, simpleto install, be it the outlets and/or the power switches, hybrid orsimple mechanical switches, into the standard or fit box.

The same plug-in “standard” or fit should be applied to IoT's and Ai'sthat are now being introduced, or will be introduced in the future intothe intelligent support boxes 102-112 or larger such as 124, and sameapplies to installing the IoT's and Ai into the low voltage plug-insupport boxes 902-912 or larger such as 924.

The above explanation, covering the installing of the plug-in devicesintroduces other important reasons to maintain the plug-in structure tobe a “standard” or “fit”. One reason is the need to remove theplugged-in devices by similar simple actions such as push and pull inreverse. Be it during the installation of the system, duringcommissioning and in the future, as an example, intent to replace olderdevice with an upgraded device.

FIGS. 9A and 9B disclosed above show the decorative frames 143 and 186with the serrated bars 141 or 181 for locking the decorative frames ontothe support box be it 102-112 or 902-912 or larger.

The decorative frame can be pulled outwards by hand and removed foraccessing the channel of ramps of the given plug-in device, intended tobe removed. Each channel of ramps includes lock ramp for single gangsize device or 26 for plurality of gangs devices and pull ramp 37(single gang) or 27 (plurality of gangs), shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

FIGS. 23A-23E disclose the conceptual lock, release and pull actions ofthe present invention, to enable the removal of an installed plug-indevice by a simple action of push and pull.

Each single gang device includes two lock ramps 36 at both top andbottom surface, wherein the surface shown in FIGS. 2A-2C are the topsurfaces, with the bottom surfaces (not shown) are identicallystructured, including all the shown element 22, 26 and 27 of the ACoutlets, and 32, 34, 36 and 37 of the hybrid switches or mechanicalswitches. The top and bottom surfaces are referenced to be 3BT-top and3BB bottom, shown in FIG. 23A.

FIG. 10A shows the support frame structure including the guiding grooves14 for directing the switches into position, the bending lock arm 18with a lock step 16 that engage the lock ramps 26 of the structuredswitch on both surface top 3BT and bottom 3BB surfaces by the twoopposing bending lock arms 18 of the support frame when the switch isfully plugged-in.

The same apply to the two gang AC outlets. The AC outlet top and bottomsurfaces are structured without the convexes 14 as two gang devices areself guided into the support frame without the convexes 14. The ACoutlets are structured with four lock ramps 26 and four pull ramps 27accessible via four channels of ramps, two on the top surface and two onthe bottom surface, locked via four bending lock arms 18.

Same will apply to IoT's and Ai devices, it is sufficient to lock 3-6gang devices or larger into four channels of ramps only, locked by fourbending lock arms 18.

FIGS. 23A, 23D and 23E show the insertion and the removal of the dualrelease bars 1 (top and bottom) into and from the channel of ramps.There is no difference between the top and bottom release bars 1, as thetwo can be reversed, and as explained below, each of the bars can beinserted individually into a channel of ramps.

The important elements of the structured bar 1 are shown enlarged inFIG. 23B to be the two guides 1A and 1B for sliding the bar into theguiding grooves 14 of FIG. 10A, provided on both sides of each bendinglock arm 18. The other elements are the sliding surface 1D on top of astep 1F and the slant 1C that pushes outward the lock arm 18 as the baris inserted into the channel of ramps (top and bottom), and releases thelock pin in the process.

FIG. 23C shows the tip of the bar 1E that includes the step 1F, thesliding surface 1D and the slant 1C structured to slide all the way over(passing) the pull ramp 27 or 37 to a stop by the lock ramp 26 or 36 andbe pushed into the space between the lock and pull ramps with thesliding surface 1D is engaging the switch or the outlet flat top surfacereferenced 3BT, as shown in FIG. 23C.

FIG. 23A shows the sliding bars to being inserted into the channel oframps. The top and bottom tips 1E engage the top and bottom flatsurfaces of the outlet body 3BT and 3BB as shown, or into a cutout ofthe switch key (not shown) with the outlet or switch are to be unlockedby the inserted tips 1E and be pulled from the support frame 11.

FIG. 23A shows step A, the start of, and FIG. 23D shows the process of,pushing the tips 1E of the bars 1 in three steps or position B-D,wherein step B shows the tips 1E being pushed inwards and are reachingthe release ramps 27 or 37 and the edge of the bending lock arm 18.

Step C shows the mid way with the tips are riding over the slant of thepull ramps 27 or 37, with the slant 1C is pushing outwards the tip ofthe lock arm 18, at which point of time the lock ramps 26 or 36 are infact shown released from the locking edge of the step 16 by the outwardpushed lock arm 18.

Step D shows the fully pushed bar, all the way as shown and disclosed inFIG. 23C, with the tips 1E are pushed back inward onto the flat surfaceof the switch or the outlet, between the lock ramps 26 or 36 and thepull ramps 27 or 37, and with the lock ramps 26 or 36 remain releasedfrom the edge of the locking step 16.

FIG. 23E shows the removal step E or action by pulling the releasedswitch or outlet including any of the plug-in devices be it IoT or Ai orelectrical plug-in device or low voltage plug-in device. Standardplug-in wiring device can be plugged-into a support box with nointelligence or circuits, but provide electrical terminals to link AC orDC power and/or load to the plugged in device. Similar is a blankplug-in enclosure, structured to fill (cover) an empty/non used spacewithin the support box.

FIGS. 24A-24D show a simple “hand tool” 400 comprising four release bars1 with a hole 402 at the rear end of the bar for inserting four pullcords 401 tied together into a knot 403 to provide a pull via the knot403 as shown in FIG. 24A.

The process to pull the plug-in devices shown as an AC outlet and ACswitch starts with step A, inserting each individual tip of the fourrelease bars 1 into the channel of ramp of the shown outlet in step A ofFIG. 24A all the way in to release the outlet four lock ramps 26,continued by step B, pulling the released outlet from its lock stateposition and continue by step C, the pull by hand of the released andloose outlet to complete the outlet removal.

FIG. 24B shows the three steps to release a switch by two only releasebars 1, step A starts with individual insertion of the two release bars1 all the way to release the switch lock ramps 36, continued by step B,the pulling of the released switch from its lock position and step C theremoval by hand of the released and loose switch from the support frameto complete the removal action.

FIG. 24C shows four half gang plug-in devices (low voltage sockets) thatare plugged-in or removed individually or in pairs. The shown half gangdevices are separated to illustrate the guide groove 48 and the ridge 47to align the two half gangs devices into single gang space for theplug-in action with precision.

FIG. 24D shows four half gang low voltage devices locked into plug-intwo gang box 902 with a single release bar 1 inserted into the upperchannel of ramps to release and pull the upper half gang device,continued with step B the pull of the released device and furthercontinued with step C, the removal by hand of the released and loosehalf gang socket referenced as 51S, shown in FIG. 24C to be telephone orinternet socket 44-TEL of FIG. 11E.

FIGS. 25A and 25B show a different embodiment of a structured releaseand pull hand tool 650 and 650D comprising a holder with dual slots 653for supporting the two release bars combinations 1SS or 1DS forproviding combined insertion of two or four release bars to release asingle gang device or dual gang device by single action, wherein 1SSincludes the release bar 1 structured with a sliding support 656 forinsertion into the slots 653.

The other shown two sliding support 656 are structured each with dualsliding bars 1 for pulling dual gang devices such as AC outlets, IoTsand/or Ai devices.

It should be obviously clear from FIGS. 25A and 25B that longer slidingguide 656 for three of four gang or n gang can be similarly provided. Asreferred to above, larger plug-in devices that occupy more than fourgangs need not be attached to more than four locking arms 18, such asIoT or Ai device may need to be 6 gangs long, can be locked into fouronly locking arms 18.

Such long device can be well plugged-in into six gang standard plug-insupport box and be locked into place via only four locking ramps 26 or36. Two lock ramps in the first gang and the other two in the last gang(six) and be released by the four tied release bars 1 of FIG. 24A or bya structured release bars 1DS of FIG. 25B having six gang long slidingsupport 656.

Similar structured hand tools for releasing and pulling larger plug-indevices can be applied to the release and remove hand tools of differentembodiments are disclosed below.

FIG. 25C shows simpler structured hand tools 670S and 670D includingassembled holder, comprising U shaped punched and bended metal holder672 and a wooden handle 673 attached to the U shape holder 672 by screws674 including screws 675 to attach the single 1SS release bar or 1DSdual release bar.

The shown single release bar 1SS and the holder 676S combination and thedual release bars 1DS and holder 676D combination are structured forattachment to the U shape holder 672 by set of screws 675, showing a lowcost simple solution to a simple to assemble a release hand toolembodiment.

FIG. 25D shows other structure for pulling an installed plug-in dualgang device 211B with the dual gang device 620D structure differ fromthe dual gangs structures shown in FIGS. 25A-25C and disclosed above.

The structured plug-in dual gang outlet 211B shown in FIG. 25D differsfrom the above shown outlet 211 by the position of and the number of therelease or pull ramps 627, one only at the top center as shown and theother at the bottom center (not shown) of the shown outlet 211B.

The shown hand tool 620D is provided with dual pull slots, shown in aformed spring metal with a rectangular cutout slot 632 for the pullaction.

The release action is provided by the four or dual pairs of identicalbended metal rails 631 for unlocking the lock ramps 26 by pushing thefour bending lock arms 18 outwards, and simultaneously passing, by thepush motion, over the pull ramps 627 to catch the two ramps 627 tightlyby the dual slots 632, ready for pull the released outlet 211B.

FIG. 25E shows release and pull hand tool 620S similar to the hand toolof FIG. 25D for pulling a single gang device, such as the shown hybridswitch 3-SB having similar structure to the shown hybrid switch 3-S inFIG. 2C with the exception of the pull ramps 37. Instead the shownswitch 3-SB is structured with four pull ramps 637 with two ramps arestructured onto the switch left and two ramps 637 on the right side ofthe switch (not shown).

The pull elements are four cutouts or slots, two on each side (left andright) of a U shape bended thin metal, such as springy stainless orsteel metal sheet 635 attached to the handle 622 along with dual releaserails 631, identical with the rails 631 of the hand tool 620D.

The rails 631 are aligned with the center of the channel of ramps topush outwards the top and bottom bending lock arm 18 by the insertionaction, for releasing the two lock ramps 36 and simultaneously catchingtightly the four pull ramps 637, by the four cutouts or slots 633 shownin both perspective illustrations of front sideway A and rear sideway B.

The enlarged size of the rear left side lock ramps 637 to better showthe slant portion 637S of the release ramps 637 for enabling smooth passover to promptly catch the release ramps by the cutout 633 and pull theswitch to a loose released position to be removed out by hand.

FIG. 26A shows yet another preferred release and pull hand toolconveniently packaged into a single handle 600 with the release and pullbars for single gang 606S and dual gang 606 are combined and stored orkept safe into dual cavities 608 in the left and right side of thehandle comprising the body 600B and cover 600C.

The body 600B and the cover 600C are each including insert 603 and alock 609 respectively to lock and release the cover 600C to and from thebody 600B, and dual inserts 607A and 607B each with a slot 606A and 606Brespectively shown in greater details in FIG. 26B.

FIG. 26B shows the slots 605A and 605B and the side covers 604 toprovide a solid combined handle locked by the dual lock 609 by pushingthe cover onto the body and lock. FIG. 26A shows the four slidingguides, two pairs of 606 with dual release bars and 606S with a singlerelease bar are stored in the cavity 608 including the two cutout holes607 on both sides left and right of the shown body 600C and not showncavity portions in the cover 600C.

The shown slits 606A and 606B and the release bars 1 are off centerversus the sliding guides 606 and 606S to assure no reverse insertion ofthe release bar by error, so as to provide clean handle solidly lockedto support the release bars 1 for single gang or dual gang. The shownhand tools 600D and 600S operate by a simple push and pull actions asreferred to the release hand tools shown in FIGS. 23A to 25E above.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of theinvention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure, whichmodifications do not constitute departures from the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A home automation controller and systemcomprising at least one Central Processing Unit (CPU), an OpticalAccesses (optoports) and circuits to separately communicate, monitor,control and report via at least two cascaded electric power linescomprising a cascading Alternate Current (AC) chain and a cascading lowvoltage Direct Current (DC) chain, powering Intelligent Support Boxes(ISB)(s) chain for supporting Plug-In Devices (PID)(s), wherein at leastone of AC and DC PIDs is plugged into a mating AC ISB and DC ISB andpower lines, drawn via separate ducts and conduits for feedingseparately AC and DC power to at least one of electrical device andassembly via at least one of an AC and a DC PIDs; wherein the PIDdevices are selected from a group consisting of a relay, a latch relay,a switch, an hybrid Switch, a power outlet, an Artificial Intelligence(Ai), an Internet of Things (IoT), an environment sensor, a voiceoperating device, a communication outlet, a face recognition andidentification element, an entry panel and a security device, with thePID devices being at least one of a plug-into, attached-to and linked-toan ISB having the assembly being at least one of a known wiring deviceand an intelligent wiring device and including one of devices andfacilities enabling at least one of reporting consumed power andself-setting; and at least two separate AC and DC cascading chains ofoptical cable segments linked via ISB optoports extending in n stepsfrom a first ISB to a last ISB of a given chain via separate at leastone of wall ducts and conduits for linking with the home automationcontroller mounted in one of a cabinet and a wall directly andselectively via at least one of a command converter and a distributorfor linking the entire cascading chains into a combined electric homegrid controlled and managed, and reporting the consumed power andoperating particulars.
 2. The home automation controller and systemaccording to claim 1 is to structure and shape a fit to one of in-walland onto-wall surface and operate by and via elements selected from agroup consisting of a display, a touch screen, a display screen, a touchpad, a touch key, a push key, an indicators, a speaker, a microphone andcombinations thereof.
 3. The home automation controller and systemaccording to claim 1 operated by and via elements selected from a groupconsisting of a touch screen display, an optical access and at least onecommunication outlet, elements selected from a group consisting ofoptical fiber, wireless device, antenna(s), terminal(s) and socket(s)for linking with the home controller and selectively via a combined optoand electrical grid(s), powering selectively one of an AC device and aDC device via an outlet and a switch for a reported operatingparticulars and a consumed power.
 4. The home automation controller andsystem according to claim 1 further combines an electrical grid(s) forpowering at least one of an AC power outlet and a DC power outlet andone of an AC switch and a DC switch for enabling one of a programedreporting of operating particulars and self-updating at all times. 5.The home automation controller and system according to claim 1 furtherdirect to n optical accesses and communication elements selected from agroup consisting of an optical fiber, a wireless device, an antenna(s),a WiFi, a terminal(s), a socket(s) and an IR in line of sight forselective linking with the home controller directly and via at least oneof the command converter and the distributor.
 6. The home automationcontroller and system according to claim 1 wherein said “home” is asingle unit (UNIT) selected from a group consisting of a single homeunit, a unit of multi homes, a unit of high rise residential building, aunit of commercial building, a unit of office building and a unit ofpublic building.
 7. The home automation controller and system accordingto claim 1 is built or fitted with a selected elements, selected from agroup consisting of Optical Fiber (OF), Plastic Optical Fiber (POF), aWireless (RF) device, a WiFi, an InfraRed in line of sight (IR), awireless identification (RFID) and Voice Exchanges (VoE) andcommunication devices and grids.
 8. The home automation controller andsystem according to claim 1 is assembled in a television receiver setand is being a combination circuit, operated by hand held remotecontrol.
 9. The home automation controller and system according to claim1 a power feed via one of said wiring devices and assemblies areselectively exchanged for reporting, commanding and transmitting one ofa power consumed usage data via at least one of said distributor andcommand converter obtaining values and operating particulars.
 10. Thehome automation controller and system according to claim 1 wherein a TVreceiver comprising a programmed e-shopping terminal for shopping fromwithin the units surround.
 11. A method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system by a use of differ electric power lines known asAlternate Current (AC) and low voltage Direct Current (DC) to at leastone of operated power devices and one of communications within one of ahome and surround by propagating electrical signals along with the DCpower line and the AC power line by applying the DC voltage to operatedevices linked to optical signals by communicating with a given signalof a given load, via at least one signal carrier operated and managed bya home controller, wherein a at least one Plug-In Device (PID) isselected from a group consisting of a relay, a latch relay, a switch, anhybrid Switch, a power outlet, an Artificial Intelligence (Al), anInternet of Things (loT), an environment sensor, a voice operatingdevice, a communication outlet, a face recognition and identificationelement, an entry panel and a security device, with the PID devicesbeing at least one of a plug-into, attached-to and linked-to anIntelligent Support Boxes (ISB) having the assembly being at least oneof a known wiring device and an intelligent wiring device including oneof devices and facilities enabling at least one of reporting consumedpower and self-setting; said home controller comprising at least oneCentral Processing Unit (CPU) for at least one of monitor and one ofselective control of separated different AC and DC feed lines poweringone of different electric device and assembly including different wiringdevices and loads and reporting statuses, wherein a linking of adifferent AC and DC lines enables a set-up of different 2-n separated ACand DC cascaded ISBs, each ISB includes dual optical accesses for dualtwo way fiber optic segments, separately drawn along with one of aseparated AC and DC lines, drawn separate via ducts and conduits, andwherein each ISB supports one of 2-n PID including n attached devicesand assemblies; said method comprising the steps of: a. install a firstprovided ISB and a second provided ISB into a cascaded DC line drawnthrough at least one of duct and conduit away from AC line to have afirst installed ISB and a second installed ISB; b. terminate by a sharpguillotine cut two ends of a fit cut length of two optic cable segmentsto link two cut end by a hand push into a dual accesses and link a firstaccess of the dual access and a second access of the dual access,followed by linking the first access of the dual access with a homecontroller access directly and via at least one of a distributor and acommand converter access; c. plug-in the at least one PID into a lastinstalled ISB and the first installed ISB and one of device and assemblyinto the plugged-in PID; d. proceed with at least one of plug-in andattach at least one of device and assembly into last PID and first PID;e. repeat steps a-d above with a separate cascaded AC line away from thedrawn DC line to power, communicate and operate; f. link a second accessof the first installed ISB and complete by linking the controller and bylinking the first terminated end with one of directly to the homecontroller access and via one of the distributor and the commandconverter access.
 12. The method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system according to claim 11 is to structure and shape afit to one of in-wall and onto-wall surface and operate by and viaelements selected from a group consisting of a display, a touch screen,a display screen, a touch pad, a touch key, a push key, an indicators, aspeaker, a microphone and combinations thereof.
 13. The method tosimplify an home automation controller and system according to claim 11is to operate by and via elements selected from a group consisting of atouch screen display, an optical access and at least one communicationoutlet, elements selected from a group consisting of optical fiber,wireless device, antenna(s), terminal(s) and socket(s) for linking withthe home controller and selectively via a combined opto and electricalgrid(s), powering selectively one of an AC device and a DC device via anoutlet and a switch for a reported operating particulars and a consumedpower.
 14. The method to simplify an home automation controller andsystem according to claim 11 is to further combines an electricalgrid(s) for powering at least one of an AC power outlet and a DC poweroutlet and one of an AC switch and a DC switch for enabling one of aprogramed reporting of operating particulars and self-updating at alltimes.
 15. The method to simplify an home automation controller andsystem according to claim 11 further direct to n optical accesses andcommunication elements selected from a group consisting of an opticalfiber, a wireless device, an antenna(s), a WiFi, a terminal(s), asocket(s) and an IR in line of sight for selective linking with the homecontroller directly and via at least one of the command converter andthe distributor.
 16. The method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system according to claim 11 wherein said “home” is asingle unit (UNIT) selected from a group consisting of a single homeunit, a unit of multi homes, a unit of high rise residential building, aunit of commercial building, a unit of office building and a unit ofpublic building.
 17. The method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system built or fitted with selected a elements, selectedfrom a group consisting of Optical Fiber (OF), Plastic Optical Fiber(POF), a Wireless (RF) device, WiFi, an InfraRed in line of sight (IR),a wireless identification (RFID) and Voice Exchanges (VoE) andcommunication devices and grids.
 18. The method to simplify an homeautomation controller and system according to claim 11 is assembled in atelevision receiver set and is being a combination circuit, operated byhand held remote control.
 19. The method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system according to claim 11 a power feed via one of saidwiring devices and assemblies are selectively exchanged for reporting,commanding and transmitting one of a power consumed usage data via atleast one of said distributor and command converter obtaining values andoperating particulars.
 20. The method to simplify an home automationcontroller and system according to claim 11, wherein a TV receivercomprising a programmed e-shopping terminal for shopping from within theunits surround.